Match summary
VfB were the more proactive team in the first half of the headline fixture on Bundesliga Matchday 27, and created the first chance after just two minutes when Chris Führich’s cross found Jamie Leweling, whose volley was blocked by Kaua Santos. Just five minutes later, Enzo Millot was unfortunate to see his low drive from 12 yards go narrowly wide of the target.
Mittelstädt off the line
At the other end of the pitch, some Maximilian Mittelstädt heroics prevented Frankfurt from taking the lead. After Ansgar Knauff had dribbled the ball around Alexander Nübel, Mittelstädt slid in to hook the Frankfurt attacker’s shot off the line (18’). Moments later Nübel, Finn Jeltsch and Jeff Chabot combined to keep out a header from Tuta (19’). After Nnamdi Collins headed wide in stoppage time, the match remained goalless at the break.
Under pressure
VfB rode their luck early in the second half when an attempted clearance from Nübel went awry, but Collins missed the open net from just outside the penalty area (50’). The hosts increased the tempo and became the dominant side, and narrowly missed taking the lead a short while later when Hugo Ekitiké’s shot hit the post, with Götze sending the rebound over with the goal at his mercy (56’).
Al-Dakhil sent off
Just one minute later Ameen Al-Dakhil was sent off for a last-man foul on Ekitiké. The pressure subsequently grew on VfB and eventually took its toll in the 71st minute through Götze’s close-range finish.
Deniz Undav had a good chance to snatch an equaliser in the closing stages but he was thwarted by a last-ditch block from Arthur Theate (79’).
Goals
71st minute: Nübel parries a shot from Hugo Larsson onto the post and the rebound falls kindly for Götze, who only has to prod it over the line.
