Ekitiké brace in 2-2 draw | OneFootball

Hoffenheim and Frankfurt shared the points on Sunday afternoon after the hosts equalised in stoppage time.

Dino Toppmöller made just one change to his starting line-up from Thursday’s UEFA Europa League win over Ferencváros, Nnamdi Collins replacing Tuta in defence. Aurèle Amenda returned to the bench for the first time since November following his syndesmosis tear, while 16-year-old Ebu Bekir Is was also included in the squad for the first time due to Nathaniel Brown, Mo Dahoud and Oscar Højlund missing through illness.

Ekitiké makes difference again

At the PreZero Arena, where the 15,000 Eintracht fans made for a superb atmosphere, the hosts made the better start and had the first chance on six minutes. From a free kick, the ball fell to Adam Hlozek, whose fierce strike crashed against the bar. That aside, though, there was little for either goalkeeper to do during a rather pedestrian opening 25 minutes.

The key moment of the first half came on the 25-minute mark, when Hugo Ekitiké was accidentally caught on the back of the ankle by Kevin Akpoguma inside the area. Referee Sascha Stegemann was alerted by the VAR and following a review, pointed to the spot. Ekitiké stepped up himself and coolly sent goalkeeper Luca Philipp – deputising for the injured Oliver Baumann – the wrong way, netting the opening goal for the sixth time this season.

The Eagles had to work hard defensively at the end of the first half, with Rasmus Kristensen making a vital block to stop Max Moerstedt’s goalbound effort, but they managed to preserve their lead.

End-to-end second half

The two sides came out unchanged for the second period, which continued in a similar vein to the first, with the hosts having more of the possession and attempts but Eintracht threatening on the counter. Kevin Trapp was called into action in the 52nd minute, when he turned Anton Stach’s shot behind at the near post. Seven minutes later, Hoffenheim thought they’d equalised when Hlozek fired past Trapp on the counter, but he had strayed just offside in the build-up.

TSG were level shortly after, though, when Hlozek teed up substitute Gift Orban to slot in just a minute after coming on. That goal opened the game up and Eintracht came close to regaining the lead when Kristensen’s ball across goal only just evaded the outstretched leg of Ekitiké, who headed wide from Farès Chaibi’s subsequent corner. At the other end, Andrej Kramaric struck the outside of the post with the goal gaping. And Hoffenheim were immediately punished for that miss as Frankfurt retook the lead, Kristensen again squaring to Ekitiké who bagged his second goal of the afternoon and his 11th of the Bundesliga campaign.

The in-form striker could’ve had a hat-trick minutes later but was denied by Philipp twice in a matter of seconds. Hoffenheim kept battling, though, and upped the pressure again in the closing stages. After Kramaric shot over the target from distance and Pavel Kaderabek missed from a corner, it looked like the Eagles would hang on for another win but in the fifth of seven minutes of stoppage time, Hlozek volleyed through the legs of Trapp to earn the hosts a point that was, in truth, not undeserved.