Maina helped FC Koln grab a crucial three points against 2022 Europa League winners Frankfurt in their quest to keep their Bundesliga survival chances alive.
Kenyan winger Linton Maina came off the bench to help FC Koln grab a crucial three points against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday to keep their Bundesliga survival hopes alive.
Maina came on in the 79th minute, and although he made two accurate passes, was not on the pitch long enough to have a real influence on the game.
However, he missed a big chance late into the game which keeps his goal tally for the season remaining at one.
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Ayunga, who has featured prominently for St.Mirren since his return from injury, stayed on the bench all game.
Frankfurt loanee Faride Alidou proved the most influential factor in his team's win over his parent club. The 22-year-old drew a foul that reduced Eintracht to ten men, then scored his second ever Bundesliga goal (inside of seven days) to lift his team to victory.
The game got turned on its head when Eintracht defender Niels Nkounkou - already on a yellow card - committed a highly egregious foul on Köln attacker (and Frankfurt loan-out) Faride Alidou in the 66th.
Nkounkou saw his second yellow on what absolutely could have been a straight red. Alidou - who also netted his first Bundesliga goal last week against Wolfsburg - then skillfully redirected the ball into the back of the net from close range on the ensuing free kick moments later. Dejan Ljubicic initially sent the effort goal wards.
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Ljubicic then earned a second assist on Jan Thielmann's 2-0 in the 80th.
Matters got worse for Frankfurt when defender Tuta become the second player to exit the match on double yellows in the 83rd.
Nine-man Frankfurt obviously had no hope of coming back after that. Jan Thielmann - who has been forced to serve as a diminutive makeshift striker - also scored registered his first goal of the season.
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