Nomadic Striker Gekas Powers His Side To Another Three Points.

Kaiserslautern 0 – 3 Eintracht Frankfurt

I definitely didn’t see this one coming! Frankfurt’s Theofanis Gekas was once again the man of the match for his side as he scored a brace and lifted his side to what ended up being a comfortable win. Kaiserslautern had the chance to go ahead after 25 minutes, when Frankfurt defender Georgios Tzavllas brought Srdjan Lakic down in the area, and a penalty kick was awarded. Lakic stepped up to take it, but Oka Nikolov made the save. The incident seemed to kick a little bit of life into Frankfurt, and they went one-nil up just before the break. Patrick Ochs, who has been very efficient all season, got down the by-line after combining with Pirmin Schwegler, and then crossed for Theofanis Gekas to smash in from close range. After the break, Frankfurt continued to press the hosts and forced some top saves and some panicked clearances out of their opponents. On 67 minutes, Theofanis Gekas made it two-nil after another close range effort, and Alexander Meier secured the three points for his side after scoring from a Sebastian Jung cross. Kaiserslautern have now lost five of their last six games, and it looks like the promoted side will definitely be fighting for survival all season. Next weekend, Kaiserslautern visit Freiburg, while Frankfurt host Schalke.

TSG Hoffenheim 3 – 2 Borussia Monchengladbach

Hoffenheim’s desire to attack and play positive football is what got them the win today over a Gladbach side that look very shabby, despite the scoreline. Gladbach took the lead against the hosts after just 12 minutes, when Raul Bobadilla was left totally unmarked after a Marco Reus cross. The Argentinian striker turned and chipped the ball over Tom Starke to make it one-nil. Immediately, though, Gladbach decided they’d sit back on their lead and soak up the pressure. What astounds me about that, is the fact that Gladbach have the worst defense in the league and they thought they could hold a one goal lead for 80 more minutes against a side as attack-oriented as Hoffenheim. Mystifying. Hoffenheim were pretty lacklustre throughout the first-half, though, but after the break it was a totally different story. Hoffenheim manager Ralf Rangnick must have said some very inspiring things at half-time, because after the break his side were definitely on top and in control. Hoffenheim equalized just thirty seconds into the second half, through some great work down the wing by Kokou Mlapa. The young striker sprinted to the by-line and got a great ball into the box, and an onrushing Demba Ba poked it into the back of the net. Just after the hour mark, Sejad Salihovic brought Juan Arango down near the halfway line, and the Venezuelan playmaker was clearly not pleased by the challenge. The midfielder rolled over and kicked Salihovic in the groin. Obviously, Arango received a straight red card. He really had a woeful afternoon, and Gladbach didn’t miss him when he was sent off. Five minutes later, Demba Ba and Anderson Bamba contested an aerial ball, and the Gladbach man unfortunately put it past his own keeper to make it 2-1 to Hoffenheim. On 80 minutes, it was Demba Ba again causing the Gladbach defense all sorts of problems. He sprinted into the box and advanced on the keeper, but was brought down from behind by Sebastian Schachten, who then received a straight red card. Gladbach down to nine men, and Salihovic made it 3-1 from the penalty spot. But it didn’t stop there! Mohamadou Idrissou latched onto a long ball inside the Hoffenheim penalty area, jinked past Andreas Beck, cut past Marvin Compper, and slotted it past Tom Starke. It ended 3-2, and it was a deserved victory for Hoffenheim. Next weekend, Hoffenheim travel to Borussia Dortmund, while Gladbach will host Werder Bremen.