
Frankfurt's German forward #11 Younes Ebnoutalib (R) celebrates scoring the 2-2 goal with his teammate Frankfurt's German forward #07 Ansgar Knauff during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Eintracht Frankfurt and BVB Borussia Dortmund in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on January 9, 2026. Photo: AFP
Frankfurt-born Ebnoutalib only signed for his hometown club last week, completing a fairytale rise from the fourth-tier to the Bundesliga in the space of a year.
The 22-year-old has been billed as one of the most exciting talents in German football and he showed why in a thrilling game against Dortmund.
Thrown into the starting eleven on his debut, Ebnoutalib smashed home an ice-cool finish midway through the second half before the drama continued with two goals in stoppage time.
Frankfurt have one of the leakiest defences in the league this season, and it took Dortmund just 10 minutes to unlock it.
After picking up a brilliant diagonal ball from Nico Schlotterbeck, right-back Julian Ryerson whipped a cross into the front post where Maximilian Beier turned in a first-time finish.
Dortmund failed to press home their advantage, however, and let the hosts back into the game when Serhou Guirassy gave away a penalty with a careless foul on Robin Koch.
Can Uzun slotted home the penalty for Frankfurt, ending a personal goal drought which stretched back to September.
Ebnoutalib headed a good chance wide just after the break as Frankfurt took control of the game in the second half.
Yet the hosts were left stunned when a deflected Felix Nmecha shot trickled inside the post to restore Dortmund's lead on 68 minutes.
Only minutes later, Ebnoutalib seized his moment.
Breaking free of the back line, the 22-year-old picked up a through-ball from fellow debutant Arnaud Kaliumendo and smashed the ball past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
Dortmund hit the woodwork in stoppage time, before Mo Dahoud curled the ball into the top corner to put Frankfurt in front.
Yet hopes of a home win were dashed at the last minute as Dortmund's Carney Chukwuemeka prodded home a late equaliser.
The draw leaves Frankfurt three points adrift of the Champions League spots in seventh overnight, while Dortmund are now eight points behind league leaders Bayern Munich in second.
Bayern have the chance to pull further ahead when they host Wolfsburg on Sunday.
Two of Saturday's Bundesliga fixtures have been called off due to extreme winter weather in the north of the country.
St. Pauli's game against RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim's visit to Werder Bremen were both postponed after heavy snowfall had led to school closures and major interruptions to public transport in Hamburg and Bremen this week.
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The first league match of 2026 was a riveting advert for German football but both sides will rue their ability to hold a lead.
The draw left Dortmund in second place, eight points behind leader Bayern Munich and four above Bayer Leverkusen and Leipzig. All three have a game in hand.
Frankfurt missed a chance to move into fifth and remained in seventh spot, equal on points with Stuttgart.
The game started encouragingly for the visitor with Maximilian Beier side-footing home Julian Ryerson’s inviting cross from the right flank after 10 minutes.
But on a chilly night at Deutsche Bank Park, the home fans were warmed by their team’s reaction. Can Uzun equalized from the penalty spot after Serhou Guirassy was adjudged to have fouled Robin Koch.
Dortmund took the lead again midway through the second half when Felix Nmecha’s deflected shot trundled in off the far post.
And Frankfurt came back three minutes later. Arnaud Kalimuendo’s defense-splitting pass sent Younes Ebnoutalib through on goal and he kept his cool to hammer the ball past Gregor Kobel.
Frankfurt took the lead for the first time in the second minute of injury time when Mahmoud Dahoud scooped in a shot but four minutes Carney Chukwuemeka bundled home a loose ball with almost the last kick of the game.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
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