Frankfurt Overcome Hamburg 3-1 as Ilicevic Makes Debut

Eintracht Frankfurt recorded a 3-1 win over Hamburger SV on Saturday, a result that lifts them to eighth in the Bundesliga. It was also their second win against Hamburg in five days, after they had beaten them in the German Cup.

Before a crowd of 59,000, Frankfurt opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Can Uzun passed into the penalty area to Ferres Chaibi, and Hamburg's Warmed Omari, trying to clear, put the ball into his own goal.

Hamburg equalised four minutes later. Lilian Brassier could not control Miro Muheim's ball, and Albert Gronbeck seized the chance to pass to Terem Moffi, who finished from close range.

Robin Koch, Frankfurt's captain, had a header saved by goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes just before halftime. Frankfurt regained the lead straight after the interval. Brassier headed in from a Chaibi corner, and Heuer Fernandes was unable to keep it out. Raphael Onyedika scored from the rebound in the 47th minute.

Ansgar Knauff's cross appeared to set up a third goal for Chaibi, but the assistant referee flagged Knauff for offside and the goal was cancelled. Frankfurt made the result safe in the 69th minute. Uzun won the ball back in midfield, played it to Younes Abdelnaoutalib, and he slipped the ball past Heuer Fernandes.

In stoppage time, Frankfurt coach Adi Hutter brought on Nico Ilicevic for his Bundesliga debut. At 16 years and one day, Ilicevic matched Youssoufa Moukoko's record as the youngest player to feature in the Bundesliga.

Abdelnaoutalib said, "We are a team that struggles and fights. Today we showed that mentality once more. We fought until the end, and the goals came. We played as a team and deserved the win."

Frankfurt, with 11 points, rise to eighth. Hamburg, on nine points, fall to 15th. Union Berlin and Cologne drew 1-1 in the same round. Union are 16th with seven points, and Cologne are 13th with nine points.