Frankfurt move into Bundesliga top six after edging past Koln in seven-goal thriller

Ansgar Knauff and Mahmoud Dahoud celebrate goal
Ansgar Knauff and Mahmoud Dahoud celebrate goalFEDERICO GAMBARINI / DPA / DPA PICTURE-ALLIANCE VIA AFP

Dino Toppmoller’s Eintracht Frankfurt side extended their unbeaten streak to four matches across all competitions after coming from behind to earn a 4-3 victory over FC Koln. 

In a battle between two teams vying for European qualification, it was the home side that got off to a blistering start when Jakub Kaminski fired Koln ahead.

The goal had originally been ruled out for an offside in the build-up, but after a quick VAR check, it was overturned, with Kaminski’s looping finish adjudged to have been a legitimate goal.

It came from a high press, which caused Eintracht to give the ball away, with Ragnar Ache putting the ball on a plate for Kaminski, who did the rest. 

Match stats
Match statsStatsPerform via Opta

The game would be flipped on its head before the break though, with Eintracht scoring twice in quick succession to take the lead.

Koln’s good work was undone by the simplest of set pieces, with Fares Chaibi’s corner kick finding the head of Arthur Theate, who leapt highest at the near post. 

While in the deepest depths of added time, Mahmoud Dahoud pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to steer home his first Bundesliga goal of the season. 

Frankfurt picked up from where they left off in the first half, with a rapid double from Jonathan Burkardt putting the game out of Koln’s reach.

His first came from a darting run towards the near post, with Ritsu Doan picking him out with a whipped cross.

The second was even more impressive, as Burkardt sat the defender down before converting a tidy finish to send the visiting section into raptures. 

Koln didn’t give up though, with the hosts mounting an astonishingly late comeback. Marius Bulter kicked things off when he converted a nice team goal to make it 4-2, before Luca Waldschmidt set pulses racing with a classy header to reduce the arrears to one.

A nervy away side dug deep to hold on and see out the win without any late drama to jump up into the UEFA Conference League qualification spot. 

Flashscore Man of the Match: Jonathan Burkardt (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Check out the match stats here.