Kamada hits late winner for Frankfurt in Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 0-1 Silva (pen. 27'), 1-1 Mbabu (58'), 1-2 Kamada (85')
Red card: Torro (90+5')

An away win was not on the cards early on as Wolfsburg, having put four goals past Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, understandably began with a spring in their step at the Volkswagen Arena. And after getting to grips with Frankfurt’s physical approach, they soon began to create chances. Xaver Schlager dragged wide with the first shot of the game, before Josip Brekalo drew a stunning point-blank save from Kevin Trapp after a superb counter-attack. Yet it was the visitors who broke the deadlock against the run of play when Silva converted from the penalty spot after being bundled over in the box by Marin Pongracic. Undeterred, the Wolves continued to press forward, with Schlager fizzing another long-distance shot just wide, before Wout Weghorst headed off target from Kevin Mbabu’s delivery. Mijat Gacinovic could even have given the Eagles what would have been a very flattering 2-0 lead at the break, but he skewed his effort off target following an excellent run and cross from Filip Kostic.

Wolfsburg went on the front foot at the start of the second half, too, aware that Frankfurt were potentially vulnerable after conceding 11 goals in their three games since the restart. Their bold approach soon paid off when Maximilian Arnold swung in a brilliant free-kick – having provided two similar assists against Leverkusen – for Mbabu to head the equaliser past Trapp. The home side very nearly took the lead moments later from an almost identical position as another Arnold set-piece caused havoc in the Frankfurt box, but Pongracic lashed over from close range. The hosts would come to rue their wastefulness in front of goal as Frankfurt, who scored twice in the closing stages to steal a 3-3 draw against Freiburg in midweek, snatched a late winner when Kamada slotted in from Bas Dost's knock-down, giving Adi Hütter's side some welcome breathing space above the relegation zone.

• Frankfurt began the game with their oldest starting line-up so far in 2019/20, with an average age of 28.7 years.
• Silva has now scored all three penalties he has taken for Frankfurt (one in the Bundesliga, two in the DFB Cup).
• The Portuguese striker's goal was the also the Eagles' first shot of the game.
• Mbabu's goal was his second of the season, and was the first effort on goal in the second half.
• The defender's effort was also a league-best 10th headed goal Wolfsburg have scored in the second half of the season. They only managed two before the winter break.
• Kamada's goal was his second of the season and the 17th Frankfurt have scored in the final 15 minutes of matches this term. It's was the 1,000th away goal in Frankfurt's Bundesliga history.

Watch: Silva: "The wins eases the pressure on us"

Wolfsburg: Casteels (c) - Mbabu, Pongracic, Brooks, Roussillon - Schlager, Arnold - Brekalo, Steffen, Victor (Mehmedi 61') - Weghorst (Ginczek 75')
Unused subs: Pervan, Gerhardt, Horn, Marmousch, Knoche, Tisserand, Justvan
Out: Camacho (ankle), Guilavogui (knee), Klaus (suspended), Otavio (ankle), William (knee)
Coach: Oliver Glasner 

Frankfurt: Trapp - Abraham (c), Hasebe, Hinteregger - Chandler, Kohr (Torro 77'), Rode (Fernandes 77'), Kostic - Kamada (de Guzman 89'), Gacinovic (Sow 84') - Silva (Dost 77')
Unused subs: Rönnow, N'Dicka, Toure, Da Costa
Out: Ilsanker (suspended), Paciencia (thigh)
Coach: Adi Hütter

Watch: Mbabu: "It's almost easy to score from Arnold's free-kicks"