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Burkardt saves Frankfurt with a last-gasp backheel

A point looked unlikely for Eintracht Frankfurt after they fell behind and went down to ten men. Jonathan Burkardt changed that in stoppage time: his second goal, a backheel in the 90th+3 minute, made it 2-2 at Paderborn’s Home Deluxe Arena on Matchday 9. That finish is the headline, but the match’s swings tell the fuller story.

Paderborn 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 0-1 Burkardt 23’ (assist: Chaïbi), 1-1 Obermair 45’ (assist: Müller), 2-1 Pieringer 73' (pen), 2-2 Burkardt 90’+3 (assist: Atubolu)
Red card: Baum 75' Paderborn gave Ruben Müller his first Bundesliga start of the season, replacing Marvin Pieringer in the only change from their goalless draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach the previous weekend. Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter made two adjustments: Burkardt started ahead of leading scorer Younes Ebnoutalib, while Ansgar Knauff came in for Keita Kosugi.

Frankfurt got off to a strong start in Paderborn on Matchday 9. — IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

Frankfurt’s early lead didn’t last

Frankfurt began on the front foot. Lilian Brassier and Ritsu Dōan both shot wide inside ten minutes, but Paderborn gradually took control of the exchanges. Müller had a chance to put the hosts ahead when Santiago Castaneda picked him out at the back post; he couldn’t make contact. The first goal came against that run of play. Farès Chaïbi cut the ball back from the left in the 23rd minute, and Burkardt swept it into the far corner. Paderborn kept pressing: Stefano Marino hit the crossbar before Raphael Obermair equalised just before half-time, finishing through Noah Atubolu’s legs after Müller flicked the ball into his path.

Burkardt scores to make it 0-1 for the visitors. — IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

Pieringer’s penalty turns the match

Paderborn seized control after the break. Müller had a clear chance from close range after Obermair’s low cross, but couldn’t convert. Frankfurt came close too: Chaïbi hit the post. The decisive moment arrived in the 73rd minute. Substitute Marvin Pieringer drew a foul from Brassier in the box, then took the penalty himself and scored to put Paderborn 2-1 ahead. Soon after, Baum caught Laurin Curda on the heel. His second yellow left Frankfurt with ten players for the rest of the match.

Marvin Pieringer sends Noah Atubolu the wrong way to make it 2-1 from the penalty spot. - Christof Koepsel

Burkardt rescues Frankfurt at the last

Frankfurt struggled to threaten while a player down. Then, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, a corner gave them one final opening. Goalkeeper Atubolu joined the attack and won the header, directing the ball toward Jonathan Burkardt. Burkardt’s back-heel sent it through Nahuel Noll’s legs for a 2-2 draw. It was a remarkable finish, and a point Frankfurt had looked unlikely to earn moments earlier.

Burkardt celebrates with his teammates after salvaging a point for Frankfurt. - IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

Burkardt earns Man of the Match

Burkardt supplied both Frankfurt goals. He opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a composed finish from Chaïbi’s pull-back, then produced the late equaliser that rescued his side. He won 40 percent of the Man of the Match vote. The underlying numbers suggest a close contest: xGoals were 1.90 for Paderborn and 1.86 for Frankfurt. Curda recorded the fastest speed at 33.6 km/h, while Obermair’s 1-1 goal had the lowest goal probability at 36 percent. Baack led pass efficiency at +3.88; the most-pressed-player figure was unavailable. Fantasy points also reflected Burkardt’s impact. He finished with 339, ahead of Paderborn’s Obermair on 221 and Frankfurt’s Chaïbi on 218. Fantasy Heroes The final score captures the match’s strange balance: Paderborn had enough chances to take the lead, Frankfurt were reduced to ten, and Burkardt still found a way to salvage a point.