Leipzig reacted angrily to the deficit. Freiburg’s Nico Schlotterbeck made up for a chain of errors in the SC defense and saved in dire need in front of the line after Nkunku’s shot (24th). The national player, praised by national coach Hansi Flick before the game, was one of the most conspicuous Freiburgers. Again and again, the 22-year-old animated the fans of the sports club.
Emergency brake by Halstenberg
Up until the half-time break, Leipzig were no longer able to put pressure on their Bundesliga rivals. For a long time there was little to see of the highly acclaimed power play. The Saxons gained more game shares at the beginning of the second half. Flekken had no problems with Nkunku’s next shot (50′). And Halstenberg also made the emergency brake against Lucas Höler, which Stegemann had to punish with red. The following free kick from Grifo went just wide (59th).
Hardly anything was going on for RB, Tedesco reacted with a double change. Dominik Szoboszlai and Nordi Mukiele came on for Forsberg and André Silva. Above all, one could hear from the ranks: “Let’s go Freiburg, score a goal!” The prank team skillfully calmed the game again and again, but missed to add the even more calming second goal early on.
This was punished by Nkunku, whose goal made for an exciting final phase (76′).
It went into exhausting extra time, in which Ermedin Demirovic hit the post (92′). Both teams had chances: Leipzig through Nkunku (102′), Freiburg through a shot at the post by substitute Janik Haberer (104′), who also hit the crossbar (115′).
Leipzig’s Kevin Kampl, who has already been substituted, saw yellow-red on the bench (118th). In the penalty shootout it was Christian Günter and Demirovic who failed from the point.
votes on the game
Oliver Mintzlaff (Managing Director, RB Leipzig): “It’s crazy, we played 60 minutes with ten men. Today we’ll really let it rip, it’s a historic evening for us.”
Domenico Tedesco (coach, RB Leipzig): “I’m incredibly proud of the team and the players.”
Christian Streich (coach, SC Freiburg): “We had a great season and will be playing in the European Cup next year.”