Frankfurt find a way to crush Karlsruhe

Frankfurt

Ioannis Amanatidis' injury-time goal earned Eintracht Frankfurt a come-from-behind victory over Karlsruhe to ease the pressure on embattled coach Friedhelm Funkel.


Maik Franz appeared to have given Karlsruhe the spoils when he opened the scoring in the 82nd minute.


But Benjamin Kohler equalized just two minutes later, paving the way for substitute Amanatidis' heroics a minute into stoppage time.


The win was Eintracht's first of the season in a match originally scheduled for mid-September, but which had to be postponed following a Madonna concert which left the pitch unplayable.


It was a disappointing first half with Nikos Liberopoulos providing the best chance for the hosts with a blasted shot which landed a yard wide in the 16th minute.


Eintracht went close again just before the break when Kohler's corner went directly to the near post where Karlsruhe's Stefano Celozzi was there to clear off the line.


The game did not improve much until after the hour mark when both sides ventured forward more.


Sebastian Freis had a fine chance for Karlsruhe in the 67th minute but shot well wide, before Liberopoulos struck the side netting moments later at the other end.


Eintracht goalkeeper Oka Nikolov was then forced to make two good saves, turning Andreas Gorlitz's long drive out for a corner in the 79th minute and then getting a hand on Bradley Carnell's volley two minutes later.


But Nikolov could not react quickly enough with eight minutes left as Franz got to Carnell's corner first to score the first goal of the game.


The hosts did not drop their heads though and were back on level terms two minutes later.


Karlsruhe goalkeeper Markus Miller fisted a free-kick against Liberopoulos and to the feet of Kohler, who volleyed home from two yards out.


Freis could have restored Karlsruhe's lead in the 90th minute when all alone on the left, but he sent his shot just wide of the far post.


That set the stage for Amanatidis to grab the winner a minute into added time after weaving through the crowd of defenders in the box before sliding the ball past Miller.