Defeat in season opener

Eintracht Frankfurt Women lost their first game of the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season 2-0 at SGS Essen.

Goalless first half

Niko Arnautis’ charges found the going tough from the outset against a defensively well-drilled Essen side and struggled to create any clear-cut openings as they laboured to build on the strong displays in the UEFA Women’s Champions League mini-tournament. There were too many loose passes in their build-up in a goalless first 45 minutes.

Essen strike twice

The hosts took the lead in the 50th minute as the unmarked Annalena Rieke finished off an attack. Eintracht increased the tempo in response but were unable to convert their chances, allowing Laureta Elmazi to score a decisive second goal for Essen in the 78th minute.

Head coach Niko Arnautis: “We were taught a lesson today. We have to learn that we need to give everything in every game in every competition. We didn’t entirely manage that today. We didn’t show what we’re capable of, and it’s always going to be difficult in the Bundesliga if that happens. On top of that, we didn’t execute a couple of good chances well enough. We just weren’t good enough to get anything from the game today. We’ll learn from this.”