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Kevin Trapp's Frankfurt team had to admit defeat to the Belgian leader
Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach / REUTERS
Eintracht Frankfurt has been eliminated from the Conference League.
After a 2-2 draw in the first leg against Belgian league leaders Union Saint-Gilloise, the SGE lost the second leg 0-2 (0-0) in their own stadium and missed the round of 16.
Cameron Puertas caught Frankfurt right after the break with a low shot (47th minute), and former German U19 international Dennis Eckert Ayensa made it 2-0 for the guests (80th).
Junior Dina Ebimbe shortened the score in the final phase (87'), but even six minutes of stoppage time wasn't enough for the SGE to equalize.
Dino Toppmöller swapped three positions in the starting line-up compared to the 3-3 draw against SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga and, among other things, had to replace winter signing Sasa Kalajdzic: The Austrian, on loan from Wolverhampton, is no longer available to the SGE due to a torn cruciate ligament.
Top scorer Omar Marmoush was the front striker.
Things only get livelier after the break
The first offensive accent belonged to Frankfurt, but Farès Chaïbi was clearly offside when he supposedly scored (16').
Not much more happened in a disorganized first half - the game became even more lively after the break: Frankfurt defended carelessly, Puertas got the ball into his foot 16 meters in front of the goal and scored to take the lead (47th).
The SGE looked for an answer, but was almost handed the 0:2 by Puertas.
Trapp was able to parry (70'), but Niels Nkounkou's header failed on the other side (77').
Substitute Eckert Ayensa's volley hit seemed to decide the game (80th), but Eintracht came back again with a header from Dina Ebimbe (87th) - it was no longer enough to equalize, which would have meant extra time, even if Frankfurt had everything thrown forward.
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