Stuttgart's 16-match unbeaten run on home soil came to an end as a clinical Eintracht Frankfurt emerged victorious 3-2 in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
The visitors started brightly, with Omar Marmoush going close after missing the far post with only Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nubel to beat, while Stuttgart's Ermedin Demirovic wasted two chances to break the deadlock.
First, he hit the crossbar with a header in the 18th minute, and then he had a chance from the penalty spot after Hugo Larsson fouled Angelo Stiller in the box, but Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp saved the spot-kick four minutes later.
The hosts continued on the front foot and thought they had opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, but Julian Chabot's header from a free-kick was ruled out for offside, while Enzo Millot missed the target from Stiller's perfectly timed through ball.
Despite Stuttgart's continuous efforts, the opening goal came at the other end, as Marmoush's pinpoint corner found Hugo Ekitike, who nodded home from a central position in the 45th minute.
Ansgar Knauff danced his way through the Stuttgart area before setting up Nathaniel Brown, who latched onto a cut-back to double the lead in the 55th minute.
The visitors extended their lead on the hour mark when Marmoush curled a free-kick over the wall and past Nubel.
Stuttgart finally came to life in the 86th minute when Josha Vagnoman beat Trapp with a deflected shot.
The home side piled on the pressure and made it 3-2 four minutes later when Nick Woltemade tapped in Stiller's header from close range.
Stuttgart looked to be rewarded for their power play in injury time, but Chris Fuhrich's late equalizer was disallowed after a VAR review.
The result sees third-placed Frankfurt move within a point of second-ranked Leipzig, while Stuttgart drops to 11th.
"We scored three goals in 20 minutes and deserved a point, which would have been very important for our morale. But that's football, it's brutal today," said Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness.
"It was a great game with two attacking teams. We have the momentum on our side at the moment because we have earned it. Of course, we are all very happy," said Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmoller.
Elsewhere, Wolfsburg beat Heidenheim 3-1, while Augsburg and Hoffenheim shared the spoils after a goalless draw.
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