The fact that Filip Kostic was involved in the Frankfurt equalizer to 2-2 against Antwerp was nothing special.

Assists from the left are part of the Serbian international's specialty.

Goncalo Paciencia also did what he is able to do particularly well on Thursday evening in the Europa League in the fourth minute of stoppage time: The Portuguese was successful in his showcase role in the World Cup arena with a remarkable header, literally at the last minute.

Jörg Daniels

Editor in the sports department

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But the timing was quite remarkable. Not only because the striker had only recently come on for Daichi Kamada. Paciencia also had to sit out for almost four weeks due to injury. Before the fifth game in Group D, he was only able to train with the team three times. Nevertheless, the Portuguese was there with his jumping ability when there was evidence that Eintracht would have to accept their first defeat in front of their own audience - there were 30,000 spectators in the stadium.

Coach Oliver Glasner later declared the acclaimed goalscorer to be an “Antwerp specialist”.

In the first leg in Belgium at the end of September, Paciencia had already scored a 1-0 penalty with a penalty in added time.

Back then, too, the attacker had only just come into play.

It doesn't take the 27-year-old long to get up to operating temperature on the pitch.

In comparison, his hit against Antwerp with the head was more demanding.

Paciencia as "Antwerp specialist"

“That was really difficult. It was fantastic how Goncalo set the ball, ”said Glasner appreciatively about his protégé's highlight. Frankfurt's sports director Markus Krösche also certified Paciencia “in the box” with a “very good final quality”. The highly acclaimed himself announced after the final whistle that he “felt good” - “better than before the injury”. Paciencia was pleased that the Frankfurters had once again "proven their mentality". "We fought until the last second," he said.

 Nevertheless, the Hessians did not reach their stage goal in the European competition on Thursday. Due to the late 1-0 victory of Olympiacos Piraeus over Fenerbahce Istanbul, Eintracht did not manage to qualify as group winners directly for the round of 16 at the first attempt. "Then we just need a point in Istanbul," said Glasner defiantly. He announced that the Frankfurt team would “play for victory” in Istanbul on December 9th. "We're going there to win."

The previous away record speaks for the harmony, which won both encounters against Antwerp and Olympiacos Piraeus. "So I'm not worried," said the Austrian. At home, on the other hand, the Frankfurters played twice and were only successful when they met Piraeus (3: 1). "It's annoying," said Krösche as to the missed opportunity. “But we have a very good starting position.” Eintracht are currently two points ahead of Piraeus.

Midfielder Djibril Sow also spoke of “still having everything in one's own hands”.

"But it will be very difficult in Istanbul." The direct entry into the round of 16 would bring Hessians as group winners additional income of 2.3 million euros.

In addition, they would skip the annoying intermediate round and only intervene on March 10th.

Glasner would then have more time to work on fine-tuning with his team during training.

Weaker second section

If Eintracht against Antwerp had shown more consistency and consistency, it would have turned the first match point. A respectable first half was followed by a weaker second section. Accordingly, the mood at Glasner was “split in two”. In his opinion, this was a “very good first half”, in which Kamada made it 1-0 (13th minute) before Antwerp's Radja Nainggolan, with a bit of luck and the support of Evan Ndicka, who deflected the shot, made it 1-1 (33.) scored, followed a second half of the game, in which the Frankfurters were "not quite as fluid". "We got impatient, had a few simple ball losses, it got wild," said Glasner, describing the deficits. “We have to play off some situations better. We were countered in one or two situations. "

One of them used Mbwana Samatta after 88 minutes of play to 1: 2. "We are not allowed to get a counterattack in the 88th minute in the home stadium, especially knowing that it will be a draw in Piraeus," annoyed substitute captain Sebastian Rode. Nonetheless, the team “fought their way back. That shows our quality and mentality, ”he said. Krösche praised the “incredible morale and mentality” of the team, but pointed out that they had to “hold out their good game for over 90 minutes”. The sports board complained again about the lack of constancy in the Frankfurt game.

One point could be “a very important point” in the final accounts, said Glasner.

Eintracht owed them above all to Paciencia.

With a remarkable header technique, the Portuguese was there again on the point.

And that despite the fact that the striker was a sales candidate last summer.

Certainly he is one of the strongest players in the squad with headers.