Captain Marco Russ scores own goal amid cancer diagnosis

Eintracht Frankfurt captain Marco Russ scored an own goal today in the match that his team drew 1-1 against Nuremberg in the German football league, just hours after it was discovered that he has a serious tumor.

Despite the diagnosis, which was revealed after he tested positive in a doping control for abnormally high levels of a growth hormone associated with the disease, Russ asked his coach, Niko Kovac, to let him play.

The central defender, who will undergo surgery on Tuesday, received a warm reception from the 51,500 spectators present at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt.

However, he had no luck during the game. In the 43rd minute, Russ attempted to clear the ball with his right foot, but his defected shot ended up beating his own goalkeeper, Lukas Hradecky.

In the second half, Eintracht equalized with a goal from Mijat Gacinovic in the 65th minute, but will need to score as an away team in the second leg on Monday in Nuremberg in order to avoid relegation.

Eintracht finished third from bottom in the Bundesliga, while Nuremberg, who has been playing in the second division for the past two seasons, finished in third place.

FABIAN, LEFT OUT OF THE BENCH

Mexican forward Marco Fabian continues to be overlooked by Eintracht Frankfurt coach, Niko Kovac, who did not even call him up for the first leg match for the team's top-flight status.

It seems that Fabian's future is far away from the German team, as he has had limited playing time since his arrival and has not gained the trust of the Croatian coach.