Bundesliga
Frankfurt's Kolo Muani hits DFB Cup double
Randal Kolo Muani scored two and made another as Eintracht Frankfurt survived a scare against Bundesliga 2 leaders Darmstadt to reach the DFB Cup quarter-finals.
Eintracht Frankfurt 4-2 Darmstadt
Goals: 1-0 Kolo Muani 6’ (assist: Buta), 1-1 Honsak 29’ (assist: Mehlem), 1-2 Honsak 31’ (assist: Schnellhardt), 2-2 Borre 44’ (assist: Götze), 3-2 Kamada 62’ (assist: Kolo Muani), 4-2 Kolo Muani 90' (assist: Götze)
Frankfurt weathered an early storm as Darmstadt’s Mathias Honsak went within a whisker of turning in Marvin Mehlem’s right-wing cross. Eintracht showed the Lilies how it was done moments later when the irrepressible Kolo Muani headed in from Aurelio Buta for his 13th competitive goal of the season. Buta went for a quick-one two, but Rafael Borre blazed the Frankfurt right-back’s cross over. After Marcel Schuhen pulled off a point-blank save from Mario Götze, Darmstadt stunned the vociferous home crowd with two well-taken goals in as many minutes through Mathias Honsak. Phillip Tietz missed the chance to add a third, and was punished when Borre put away Götze’s smart lay-off on the stroke of half time.
Frankfurt carried the greater threat in the second half as Sebastian Rode flashed a diving header just wide, before Daichi Kamada collected from Kolo Muani and arrowed a superb outside-of-the-boot finish into the far corner from fully 20 yards. Darmstadt responded in kind, with Tietz striking the woodwork and an offside flag denying Mehlem after Kevin Trapp had saved from Tobias Kempe. Buta was played through on goal by Götze as the contest opened up, but failed to make a clean connection with his attempted shot. Kolo Muani took advantage of tired Darmstadt legs to complete his brace and secure Frankfurt's passage to the last eight, where the likes of Bayern Munich, holders RB Leipzig and Freiburg await.
Match stats
- Kolo Muani has three goals and as many assists in this season's DFB Cup.
- Kamada also has three cup goals this term.
- Borre scored his third goal of the season in all competitions.
- Only Bayern (20) and Werder Bremen (six) have won the DFB Cup more often than Frankfurt (five), with their most recent title in 2018.
- Frankfurt have reached the semi-finals or better in three of the last six seasons.
- This was Darmstadt’s eighth appearance in the DFB Cup last 16. They have only progressed to the quarter-finals once (in 1986/87).
Teams
Frankfurt: Trapp – Tuta, Hasebe, Ndicka (Smolcic 46') – Buta (Knauff 82'), Rode (c) (Sow 70'), Kamada, Max (Lenz 90'+2) – Götze – Borre (Jakic 90'+2), Kolo Muani
Unused subs: Ramaj, Chandler, Alario, Alidou
Out: Dina Ebimbe (ankle), Lindstrom (thigh), Wenig (metatarsal)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
Darmstadt: Schuhen - Müller, Zimmermann, Karic (Bennetts 90'+3), Holland (c) - Ronstadt, Schnellhardt (Manu 73'), Kempe, Honsak (Torsiello 90'+3), Mehlem - Tietz (Vilhelmsson 73')
Unused subs: Brunst, Isherwood, Ben Balla, Riedel, Stojilkovic
Out: Bader (operation), Gjasula (adductor), Pfeiffer (muscular), Seydel (tendon)
Coach: Torsten Lieberknecht
As it happened
3 - 2(2 - 2)
Frankfurt
SECOND HALF
Darmstadt
90' +3
vs
Keanan Bennetts
Emir Karic
90' +7
vs
What a fantastic cup tie!
What a treat in the DFB Cup last 16! Eintracht Frankfurt are the winners, and hit some wonderful goals, but Darmstadt can be extremely proud of how they applied themselves and matched the Europa League winners for so long - if they keep performing like that, we may well see them in the Bundesliga next season!
90' +3
vs
Fabio Torsiello
Mathias Honsak
90' +4
vs
Final minute of stoppage time
Four extra minutes were indicated with Eintracht almost home now.
90' +2
vs
Kristijan Jakić
Rafael Borré
90' +2
vs
Christopher Lenz
Philipp Max
90'
vs
Kolo Muani seals the win
With Darmstadt throwing everything forward, Frankfurt spring them open on a quick break. Götze, who has been excellent tonight, threads a ball past the defence for Kolo Muani to chase onto - he takes it inside and applies a typically excellent finish!
88'
vs
Darmstadt dare to believe
The Bundesliga 2 side are throwing everything at this, pushing men forward, sending Schuhen up into a sweeper keeper role and hitting passes up.
82'
vs
Ansgar Knauff
Aurélio Buta
84'
vs
Braydon Manu
84'
vs
End-to-end fare
There's no sign of this game quietening down as we head into the final few minutes. Frankfurt are furiously pushing for a fourth goal, Darmstadt are hustling them and breaking with full pelt whenever possible.
80'
vs
Tobias Kempe
73'
vs
Braydon Manu
Fabian Schnellhardt
73'
vs
Oscar Vilhelmsson
Phillip Tietz
76'
vs
Honsak fires wide
Darmstadt threaten on a quick break and Honsak has a decent shot - it misses the target but that could have been his hat-trick.
75'
vs
Fascinating final stages ahead
With three goals already, you would think favourites Frankfurt should see their lead through to claim a spot in the quarter-finals. It has been such an enthralling and downright crazy game anything could happen though!
73'
vs
Buta's effort cleared off the line!
Götze played the full-back clean through and Buta dinked the ball past Schuhen in goal, only for the ball to be scrambled away before it could cross the line.
46'
vs
Hrvoje Smolčić
Evan Ndicka
70'
vs
Djibril Sow
Sebastian Rode
66'
vs
Disallowed goal for Darmstadt!
The drama continues. Mehlem thought he had pulled Darmstadt level again for a second but he was offside when a headed effort came in from Kempes that Trapp saved and he converted on the rebound.
65'
vs
Sebastian Rode
63'
vs
Kamada puts Frankfurt in front!
What a sublime finish from the Japanese international! Kolo Muani nods down to him and he drives the ball into the corner of the net with the outside of his boot from a good 20 metres out.
61'
vs
Rode with a diving header
The Frankfurt header does well to connect with a cross but sends his effort wide.
59'
vs
Borre goes down in the box
No penalty is awarded despite his appeals after Zimmermann challenges him. Honsak then shoots over as the visitors go on the attack.
58'
vs
The hosts are pressing
Frankfurt are still looking for ways to gain control. They work the ball around the box well in a good three or four minute spell of attacking pressure, but Darmstadt are getting men back, and blocking or clearing everything that comes their way until Rode has a shot deflected over.
52'
vs
Schnellhardt almost sneaks one in
Just as in the first half, as soon as Eintracht look to be on top of things, Darmstadt come and change the equation. They don't find the net this time, but Schnellhardt's shot from distance goes just the wrong side of the post with Trapp looking like he was beaten!
50'
vs
A little more calm in store?
You get the feeling both coaches may have told their charges during the break to tighten things up, and the football looks a little more structured for now - with Eintracht bossing possession and Darmstadt sitting back. Kolo Muani is his lively self, testing the visitors' defence with a couple of sprints.
48'
vs
Tuta
46'
vs
Back underway in Frankfurt
After that thrilling first 45, expect more excitement in the second period!
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +5
vs
Evan Ndicka
45' +3
vs
Jannik Müller
45'
vs
Five minutes of stoppage time indicated
Still a little longer to go in this incredible first-half.
44'
vs
Back on level terms!
A swift and slick attack brings Frankfurt level. An intelligent lay-off from Götze in the box allows Borre to pounce!
43'
vs
Confident visitors
Unsurprisingly, the two goals have visibly boosted Darmstadt. They are playing the ball around with more purpose now. They have five shots in total to Frankfurt's three.
34'
vs
Fabian Holland
34'
vs
Rafael Borré
39'
vs
Kolo Muani threatens
Frankfurt seemed rattled by the quick-fire Darmstadt double but they come again now. A ball is crossed deep from Götze to Kolo Muani, but he can't direct his header goalwards.
36'
vs
That could have been a third
What a sensational cup tie this is turning out to be! Mehlem cuts the ball to the far post and Tietz turns it wide when he could have easily made it 3-1.
31'
vs
Incredible!
Visitors Darmstadt have stunned their local rivals twice in the space of two minutes! It's Mathias Honsak again, with Schnellhardt picking out his clever run and the Austrian slamming the ball in for a shock lead.
29'
vs
How about that?
Just when Eintracht seemed to be getting comfortable, Darmstadt show the kind of clinical touch that has brought them to the top of Bundesliga 2. Rode loses the ball in a passing sequence in midfield, it gets cut across by Mehlem to Honsak, who turns in pass Trapp to level.
28'
vs
Hosts turning the screw
After a fairly even opening, Eintracht are starting to make their class count. They are keeping the ball well, with 62% possession, and posing a series of stern tests to the Darmstadt defence with sharp runs behind.
23'
vs
Great chance for Götze
The hosts overwhelm the Darmstadt defensive lines again. Max cuts the ball across and Götze takes aim from short range but Schuhen denies the German World Cup winner with a point-blank save.
21'
vs
Lively start
There's been plenty for neutrals to feast on thus far. The game has been played at a frantic pace, with both sides looking to go forward whenever possible. The quality of Frankfurt's attacking has given them a deserved lead.