Union Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt battled to a captivating 1-1 Bundesliga draw at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
Leopold Querfeld’s late penalty snatched a point for Union, after Nathaniel Brown’s opener for Frankfurt, amidst late drama.
Eighth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt visited ninth-placed Union Berlin. Both teams sought consistency, with Frankfurt's recent form LLDLD and Union showing LLDDD. This match was crucial for mid-table ambitions.
The first half was a cautious, tactical affair. Frankfurt held more possession, but Union Berlin's defense stood firm. Clear chances were few, keeping the contest tight.
The referee issued early cautions. Eintracht Frankfurt's Arnaud Kalimuendo received a yellow card in the 25th minute. Teammate Rasmus Højlund followed with a yellow card for a foul in the 36th minute.
At halftime, the score remained level at 0-0. Both coaches surely called for increased attacking impetus. Fans hoped for a livelier second period.
Second-half substitutions aimed to inject life into offenses. The game ignited in the 84th minute. Substitute Mahmoud Dahoud assisted Nathaniel Brown, who fired Eintracht Frankfurt into the lead.
Frankfurt's lead was quickly overshadowed by a major setback. Just two minutes later, Rasmus Højlund received his second yellow card for holding. This led to his red card dismissal in the 86th minute, leaving Frankfurt with ten men.
Union Berlin immediately capitalized on their numerical advantage. The referee awarded a penalty to the home side. Leopold Querfeld stepped up and calmly converted from the spot in the 87th minute, restoring parity.
Despite Frankfurt's 73% possession, Union Berlin showed greater attacking efficiency. Union registered 11 shots and an xG of 1.25. Frankfurt managed only 3 shots and a low xG of 0.14.
The dramatic 1-1 draw earned both Union Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt a single point. This result maintains their mid-table positions. Both teams will build on this hard-fought point in upcoming Bundesliga fixtures.
