Sawt Falasteen - Flat Frankfurt fall to Union despite late flurry

Union held a 4-1 lead after an hour thanks to a Burke hat-trick and a stunner from Ilyas Ansah.

Frankfurt kickstarted a comeback effort with 10 minutes remaining. Union coach Steffen Baumgart was sent off for protesting a penalty against his side, but the visitors held on.

After nine minutes, Ansah unleashed a long-range rocket to put Union in front before Scotland international Burke scored on the break to double the visitors lead.

Three days after coming from a goal down to thump Galatasaray 5-1, Frankfurt lacked energy and were fortunate to cut the lead to one when Nathaniel Brown's shot was deflected in just before half-time.

The lightning-quick Burke put Union back in control with two goals in four second-half minutes, from a header and on a counter attack, both set up by Andrej Ilic.

Frankfurt woke up with 10 minutes remaining, midfielder Can Uzun volleying in, before Union's Leopold Querfeld gave away a penalty for grabbing hold of Jonathan Burkardt.

After Germany striker Burkardt converted the penalty, Union's Baumgart was red carded for kicking some cardboard debris onto the pitch in protest.

Union held on for their second win of the season.

Later on Sunday, Bayer Leverkusen host strugglers Borussia Moenchengladbach, while Borussia Dortmund are at home against Wolfsburg.

R.Shaban--SF-PST