Home defeat against clinical Frankfurt

Early setback

Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side fell behind after just six minutes when Florian Müller parried Daichi Kamada’s free-kick into the path of Sebastian Rode, who nodded home from point-blank range. The contest developed into a midfield battle after that, with Chris Führich and Atakan Karazor spurning VfB’s best opportunities in the 14^th and 37^th minute.

Further set-piece goals

VfB emerged for the second half with renewed urgency but the visitors struck again ten minutes into the second half, Kamada’s direct free-kick taking a deflection off Waldemar Anton which wrong-footed Müller. Stuttgart continued to search for a route back into the game and were rewarded for their efforts when Tiago Tomás pulled one back with another deflected effort in the 79^th minute.  Tomás’ goal set up a tense finish, but Kristijan Jakic nodded in a corner with two minutes remaining to make it 3-1 to the visitors.

Goals

6th minute (0-1): Rode gets on the end of a free-kick and nods Eintracht in front.

55^th minute (0-2): Kamada’s free-kick takes a deflection off Anton on its way past Müller.

79^th minute (1-2): Tomás tries his luck from the edge of the area and pulls a goal back via another deflection.

88^th minute (1-3): Jakic heads home a corner to complete the scoring.

Reaction

VfB head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo: "We're not happy with our performance. In the first half in particular we didn't start well. Conceding three goals from set pieces hurts. In the second half we had a short period where we did well, but once they made it 3-1 just before full time it was game over. It's important for us to push ourselves to the limit, and we didn't do that today."

Waldemar Anton: "We were too sloppy with our passes in the first half. We didn't win the second balls and then we conceded from a set piece. In the second half we conceded a second goal from a direct free-kick during a period when we were playing well. It's hard to come back from that against a team playing in the Champions League. There were a lot of things missing from our game today."