Silva on target as Frankfurt end faint Freiburg European hopes

Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 Freiburg
Goals: 1-0 Silva (62'), 1-1 Jeong (76'), 2-1 Toure (87'), 3-1 Ache (90+2)

With Frankfurt guaranteed a UEFA Europa League spot, their visitors were hoping to sneak up on the outside and join them in Europe next season. A win - paired with results going their way elsewhere - would see Freiburg claim a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League’s debut, and a sea of yellow swarmed forward from the off as Vincenzo Grifo’s curling effort was inches away from giving Freiburg the lead just 30 seconds in. Silva rattled the outside of the post only a minute later as the game got under way with a bang. Elias Bördner - making his debut in the Frankfurt goal - had his palms stung before Filip Kostic and Ajdin Hrustic did the same to Mark Flekken at the other end, but neither side could find an opener in an entertaining first half.

With Borussia Mönchengladbach leading Werder Bremen at the break, Freiburg's European hopes were over as it stood - even if they could clinch all three points. That certainly didn't halt the away team's endeavour, but it was Die Adler who should have gone in front first. Kostic squared to Daichi Kamada from a quick Frankfurt counter, but the Japanese midfielder could only side-foot wide from the centre of goal, just inside the Freiburg box. On the hour mark, Flekken repelled a trio of efforts in rapid succession as Frankfurt turned the screw and the 'keeper was finally beaten shortly after. It was Silva that converted from the spot after Janik Haberer's handball in the box, but Freiburg were level late on as Jeong popped up with an equaliser. Adi Hütter's side ensured the departing coach left his post with victory, however, as Toure and Ache struck late on.

• Silva's opener was his 28th in the top flight this season, a number only bettered by Robert Lewandowski (41).
• It was Silva's 40th Bundesliga goal in total, in his 57th appearance. Only five players have reached 40 goals faster. For comparison, the legendary Gerd Müller took 58 games to get there.
• Bördner (19) made his bow in senior football, having previously been on the bench seven times in the league this season.
• Hütter oversaw his 141st and final game as Frankfurt coach. He's taken charge of 102 Bundesliga matches, with a record of 44 wins, 27 draws and 31 defeats.
• Jeong's goal was his fourth in the Bundesliga, and first away from home.
• Freiburg are now winless in four outings on Frankfurt soil (D2, L2).

Frankfurt: Bördner - Ilsanker, Hinteregger, N’Dicka - Chandler (Toure 81'), Hasebe, Zuber (Barkok 46'), Kostic (Durm 90+2) - Hrustic (Tuta 75'), Kamada (Ache 81') - Silva
Unused subs: Trapp, Schubert, Jovic, Willems
Out: Rode (groin), Sow (knock), Younes (knee)
Coach: Adi Hütter

Freiburg: Flekken - Kübler, Lienhart, Gulde, Günter (c) - Santamaria (Keitel 69') , Höfler - Schmid, Haberer (Jeong 70'), Grifo (Kwon 90+4) - Petersen (Demirovic 69')
Unused subs: Uphoff, Höler, Til, Heintz, Schlotterbeck
Out: Sallai (suspended)
Coach: Christian Streich