Eintracht Frankfurt comfortably advanced to the Europa League quarter-finals with a 4-1 victory over Ajax Amsterdam in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie, securing a 6-2 aggregate win. A dominant performance, highlighted by a Mario Götze brace, saw the German side progress with ease.
Frankfurt started strongly, taking the lead in the 7th minute. Jean-Mattéo Bahoya scored after being set up by Hugo Ekitiké. Götze doubled the advantage in the 25th minute, finishing off a move initiated by a long ball from Robin Koch.
Ajax, who heavily rotated their squad, struggled to create chances throughout the match. Frankfurt, meanwhile, had opportunities to extend their lead further in the first half but failed to convert.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Ajax offering little attacking threat. Ekitiké made it 3-0 in the 67th minute, seemingly putting the tie beyond doubt.
However, Ajax briefly sparked hopes of a comeback when Kenneth Taylor scored in the 78th minute. The visitors even had another chance to further reduce the deficit.
Any lingering Ajax hopes were extinguished by a goalkeeping error. Ajax goalkeeper Matheus, attempting to play as a sweeper-keeper, came far off his line to clear a long ball but made a mistake. Götze capitalized, scoring his second goal of the match with a long-range effort into an empty net.
Frankfurt, displaying the form that earned them the nickname “Europa Eintracht,” will face Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals. The match showcased Frankfurt’s attacking prowess and their ability to exploit defensive errors, while highlighting Ajax’s struggles on the night. Kauã Santos replaced injured Kevin Trapp on short notice.
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