Young S04 side lose 2-1 in Frankfurt

Becker replaces the suspended Caligiuri

Head coach David Wagner made one change to the team that drew 1-1 last Sunday at home to Bayer Leverkusen. Daniel Caligiuri, who was suspended after accumulating five yellow cards, was replaced by Timo Becker. Benito Raman and Rabbi Matondo both returned to take their place on the bench after missing the Leverkusen game through injury.

Boujellab misses a header, da Costa can’t convert

The hosts took control of the game from the off, with Schalke looking to sit back and attack Frankfurt on the counter. Nassim Boujellab had S04’s first moment of note with a header going wide from a Bastian Oczipka cross.

Eintracht had the better of the chances in the first period. Danny da Costa couldn’t convert from a low Filip Kostic cross, before Daichi Kamada narrowly missed the target (16’).

Kamada bright, Silva scores on the break

The Japanese attacker was Eintracht’s bright spark in the first 45 minutes. He shot over the bar in the 18th minute and then Alexander Nübel was called upon to tip his powerful effort over the bar four minutes later.

The Eagles took the lead six minutes later. Kostic robbed Jonjoe Kenny of the ball in Frankfurt’s half and started a counterattack. He gave it to Kamada who then played it to André Silva. The striker took it past Juan Miranda and slotted it past Nübel to make it 1-0 (28’). No further clear-cut chances were created before half time, meaning Schalke went in behind.

Abraham and McKennie with headers

The second half began very poorly for the Royal Blues. Kostic whipped in a free kick from the right-hand side and David Abraham emphatically headed home at the back post to double Frankfurt’s lead (50’).

Schalke weren’t prepared to give up though. Ozan Kabak saw his header from a Schöpf corner saved by Trapp after 58 minutes. Eintracht’s keeper was, however, beaten a minute later. Schöpf’s free kick was met this time by Weston McKennie, whose header was too powerful for Trapp.

Abraham with a vital goal-line clearance

Both teams had good chances in the closing stages. Kamada missed a decent opportunity after some good work from da Costa (68’). Schalke were then denied an equaliser in the 75th minute. McKennie fed Matondo with a header, his shot was saved by Trapp, but the rebound fell to Gregoritsch. He hit a powerful volley which was destined for the back of the net, until Abraham headed it off the line at the last moment.

19-year-old Can Bozdogan picked up a second yellow card two minutes later after a foul on Makoto Hasebe. Frankfurt, now with an extra man, looked to finish the game off. Silva was clean through one-on-one against Nübel, however couldn’t add to his tally as he put it past the post. In the 83rd minute, Matondo burst into the Eagles’ box, and despite a challenge from Martin Hinteregger, didn’t go to ground, instead shooting from a narrow angle. Trapp was equal to the Welsh international’s effort and Schalke therefore failed to find an equaliser.

Last home game of the season against Wolfsburg

The Royal Blues are back in action on Saturday, 20th June against VfL Wolfsburg. The final home match of the campaign will kick off at 15:30 CEST.