Europe League
Despite improvement: Freiburg loses 1:2 against West Ham
West Ham United (blue jerseys) were happy with a win in Freiburg. photo
© Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
SC Freiburg suffered its first defeat of the current Europa League season. After a nervous first half, the Baden team improved against West Ham, but still lost three days before Bayern hit.
SC Freiburg suffered a narrow defeat in its competitive debut against a club from England. The Baden Bundesliga team lost 1:2 (0:1) to West Ham United in the second group game of the Europa League. Lucas Paquetá (8th minute) and Nayef Aguerd (66th) scored for the previous season’s Conference League winners, who had to do without away fans due to a UEFA sanction. Roland Sallai (49th) made it 1-1.
“We didn’t play very courageously in the first half. The coach told us during the break that we could play more risky. The first 15 or 20 minutes of the second half were great. Then a standard like that decides the game, which it does Of course it hurts,” said Vincenzo Grifo.
West Ham now leads Group A with six points, Freiburg still has three points. In the difficult league away game against German champions FC Bayern Munich on Sunday (5.30 p.m./DAZN), the SC will have to improve again. “Let’s put the defeat behind us now and then attack again at the weekend,” said Philipp Lienhart.
Freiburg start nervously – sloppy mistakes
West Ham now leads Group A with six points, Freiburg still has three points. In the difficult league away game against German champions FC Bayern Munich on Sunday (5.30 p.m./DAZN), the SC will have to improve again. “Let’s put the defeat behind us now and then attack again at the weekend,” said Lienhart.
The Freiburg team seemed extremely nervous in the early stages and found themselves in trouble on several occasions. Paquetá took the lead for the visitors, with German international Thilo Kehrer defending on the left. SC goalkeeper Noah Atubolu was still there for the Brazilian’s header, but was unable to parry it.
Shortly later, the young keeper, who again appeared more uncertain than in previous games, directed a shot from Mohammed Kudus somewhat unconventionally onto the post (12th). Then Paquetá scored again – but this time from an offside position, the goal did not count (15th).
It wasn’t until around half an hour that the Baden team really got into the game. They now made fewer mistakes and inaccuracies, but remained harmless offensively. This also applied to the Austrian Junior Adamu, who was brought from Salzburg in the summer, initially injured and now called into the starting line-up for the first time.
Increasing performance in the second half is not enough
In the previous weeks, the SC had already struggled to create big chances from the game. The two goals in the 2-0 league win against FC Augsburg last Sunday were scored from a penalty and a corner.
Streich reacted at the break, bringing on the lively Ritsu Doan for Adamu – and thus apparently sent the right signal. The hosts now appeared more determined and Sallai used the first attack to equalize. Shortly later, Kiliann Sildillia headed the ball onto the guest goal post, then Lucas Höler chased it over from a few meters (55th).
Right in the middle of Freiburg’s best phase, Aguerd scored from a corner to make it 2-1 for the Londoners, SC goalkeeper Atubolu was very unfortunate. West Ham extended their impressive record to 16 wins in their last 17 European Cup games.