Points shared against Hoffenheim | OneFootball

Evan Ndicka scored at both ends and provided an assist as Eintracht Frankfurt drew 2-2 with TSG Hoffenheim.

Having made six changes for last Sunday’s match at Union Berlin, head coach Oliver Glasner largely reverted to the side that won in Barcelona, with Tuta the only player in the line-up who did not start at Camp Nou. Kevin Trapp returned in goal after missing the trip to Berlin through injury.

Ndicka goes from villain to hero

After a slow start at Deutsche Bank Park, Hoffenheim took the lead out of nothing on 12 minutes, when Evan Ndicka headed Andrej Kramaric’s cross past an unsuspecting Trapp. The Eagles gradually began to get a foothold in the match after that and Ndicka almost made amends for his mistake in the 22nd minute, heading over from a corner. At the other end, Trapp had to produce an excellent save to keep out Mu'nas Dabbur’s volley.

Eintracht deservedly equalised on 32 minutes: after Filip Kostic’s shot had been pushed behind by TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, the Serbian’s subsequent corner found the ubiquitous Ndicka, who nodded it into the right net this time. Glasner’s men had a spring in their step now and had a good chance to take the lead seven minutes later. Kostic was again the creator, cutting the ball back for Jesper Lindström, whose strike was diverted over the bar by Baumann as the first half ended with Eintracht on top but the score level.

Honours even

There was little goalmouth action in the early part of the second period as the contest became somewhat scrappy, but this changed when Eintracht took the lead in the 66th minute. The chance appeared to have gone, but Kristijan Jakic won the ball back just outside the area and it came to Daichi Kamada, who curled in his fourth Bundesliga goal of the campaign. The assist came from Ndicka, who became the first Frankfurt player since detailed data collection began in 2004/05 to record an assist, a goal and an own goal in a Bundesliga match.

Hoffenheim came close to equalising in the 72nd minute, with Ihlas Bebou’s shot being parried by Trapp and then Dabbur blasting over the rebound – although it turned out he was offside anyway. The visitors did draw level six minutes later, though, courtesy of substitute Georginio Rutter’s flicked header from David Raum’s cross. Both sides had chances to nick a winner late on, with substitute Ajdin Hrustic firing straight at Baumann for Eintracht and Kramaric being denied by another top-class Trapp save, but the game eventually ended all square.

Summary: Fair draw

Overall the draw was probably the right result, albeit one that doesn’t help either team. Eintracht’s chances of achieving European qualification through their league position are now all but over, but they can still do so via the Europa League, where they take on West Ham in the semi-final first leg this coming Thursday.

SGE line-up

Trapp – Tuta, Hinteregger, Ndicka – Knauff (Paciencia 86’), Jakic, Rode (Hrustic 67’), Kostic – Lindström (Ache 79’), Kamada (Sow 79’) – Borré (Hauge 67’)

Goals

0-1 Ndicka o.g. (12‘) 1-1 Ndicka (32‘) 2-1 Kamada (66‘) 2-2 Rutter (78‘)