Alexander Meier scored twice for Eintracht Frankfurt as they beat SC Freiburg 2-1 on Sunday, extending the promoted side’s unbeaten start to the Bundesliga.
Max Kruse gave visiting Freiburg a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute, scoring with an angled shot from a rebound after Kevin Trapp had saved Sebastian Freis’ initial effort.
Meier equalized in the 68th minute, receiving Bastian Oczipka’s cross with his back toward goal and then spinning to strike it on the volley inside the left post.
Then Oczipka delivered the corner for Meier to score his fourth goal of the season with a header five minutes later.
Freiburg’s Karim Guede earned a direct red card in stoppage-time for a dangerous challenge on Carlos Zambrano.
Frankfurt have won five of their opening six games and are second behind Bayern Munich, who have a 100 percent record.
“It was hard for us after the hype of the last weeks,” Frankfurt coach Armin Veh said. “You can’t always play dazzling football, but then to win games like this is great.”
VfL Wolfsburg’s poor start to the season continued later on Sunday with a 2-0 defeat to visiting FSV Mainz 05, who made the most of just four shots on goal.
Costa Rica defender Junior Diaz scored in the 37th minute and Adam Szalai added another against the run of play 10 minutes later.
Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath reacted during the interval by bringing on Ferhan Masani for his Bundesliga debut and Dutch striker Bas Dost.
Vierinha shot over with teammates in a better position, Emanuel Pogatetz headed over from a corner and then Vierinha’s header was tipped over by Christian Wetklo, but for all their pressure, Wolfsburg were unable to find a response, with Wetklo’s save from Naldo in the final minutes indicative of a team out of luck.
“I don’t want to judge the season after the sixth game,” Magath said after his side’s fifth consecutive game without a win. “I’m happy with the performance, but of course we have to improve in front of goal.”
Frankfurt should have taken the lead in the 27th minute, but Oliver Baumann denied Takashi Inui when the Japanese midfielder only had the goalkeeper to beat.
Freiburg could have had more after Kruse scored, with Cedric Makiadi shooting over from a promising position and Trapp denying Julian Schuster with a flying save in the 58th minute.
“It’s a bit difficult for me to find the words,” Kruse said. “We played brilliantly for 50 minutes, didn’t allow any chances. We have to work on it so we stay disciplined after scoring, too.”
Both Inui and Freis had goals ruled out for offside at either end, before Meier’s equalizer finally sparked the home side into life.
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