Europa League group stage
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 on Thursday. 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. West Ham now leads Group A with six points, Freiburg still has three points.
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. 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.
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Coach Christian 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 the 2-1 for the Londoners after a corner, SC goalkeeper Atubolu was unfortunate. Freiburg didn’t really recover, West Ham expanded its impressive record to 16 wins in the last 17 European Cup games.
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