SCF set the standard in last 16 first leg

The sides had already met twice in the group stage earlier this season, and their third encounter began with the entire Europa-Park Stadion spurring their team on with a loud rendition of “Stand up for the SCF”, setting the tone for the evening. Lining up with the same XI that started against Bayern München, the home team’s first chance came almost straightaway, as Vincenzo crossed it into the six-yard area from the right, looking for Roland Sallai, whose effort was blocked at the last second.

Freiburg certainly made the better start to the game. They played an active role in proceedings with Christian Günter bombing down the left wing with real motivation, putting pressure on the Londoners. The ball was moving nicely, and SCF were dictating the game. Christian Streich was applauding his team as they won challenges and won back possession. SC were looking good: “The team played a calm and clear game, with most of our attacks resulting in a shot,” commented Christian Streich. “We passed the ball around nicely, which mean it didn’t turn into a wild game, but it was rather much more controlled.” SCF were just lacking clear-cut chances against the Irons’ solid back four. Maximilian Eggestein had a go from long range in the 19th minute, but his shot went both high and wide.

The Premier League’s current 7th-placed side grew into the game after twenty minutes or so, and then began to have longer spells of possession. However, excluding an effort from Mohammed Kudus that went way off target, the Hammers couldn’t get a good sight on Freiburg’s goal: SCF were defending just as well as their opponents. West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski was called into action for the first time in the 31st minute. Sallai played a perfect ball into the penalty box, and Lucas Höler got his shot off away immediately on the turn, but it was a little too central, and Fabianski was easily able to collect. Freiburg were getting much closer to taking the lead, with Ritsu Doan utilising clever and quick dribbles time and again to break through West Ham’s defence, which caused the visitors problems.

SCF were flying, but West Ham looked to counter

West Ham, who appeared happy with a 0-0 with the knowledge of a second lag at home next week, fired their first warning sign in the second half. Kudus let fly, but Noah Atubolu saved strongly (47’). Sallai tried an acrobatic effort down the other end just a minute later, but the spectacular attempt was blocked before being cleared. The away side had finally started to play and missed a big chance in the 52nd minute, as Lucas Paqueta found himself in space in the penalty box, with Doan intervening just at the last moment to clear the ball for a corner.

An end-to-end game then unfolded, which was advantageous to SCF. Günter was in space and had a go from the left edge of the penalty box but dragged the effort wide (56’). The capital-city side also continued to pose a threat. “Of course, they had two or three chances, but Atu did his job well,” added Streich after full time. A counterattack culminated in a headed chance for Paqueta which went over the bar (62’), whilst Jarrod Bowen also had a chance following a counter, but this time, the shot was blocked and only went behind for a corner. The Hammers were having the better of the chances, were playing very directly and with real pace. James Ward-Prowse would be the next to test Atubolu in the 75th minute, but the keeper stood up to the test.

A goal from the bench wins it

Although West Ham had more chances, it would be Freiburg who scored the game’s only goal, and what a wonderfully worked goal it was. It went from Eggestein to Noah Weißhaupt and then onto Günter, who picked out Sallai in space on the edge of the penalty area. He then played it across the box to the better placed Michael Gregoritsch, and the Austrian simply had to tap it home to make it 1-0 (81’). As the minutes ticked down, Eggestein shot over after being set up nicely by Günter, and the hosts didn’t concede any chances to the visitors. It would only be VAR that would cause any unrest before the final whistle. It took nearly five minutes for a potential handball in the SCF penalty area to be checked, and referee Alejandro Hernandez even went to the pitch-side screen to have another look himself before deciding to stick with his original decision of a goal kick. Günter and Manuel Gulde were both in agreement after the final whistle: “It was a deserved victory. We worked hard, played courageously and were the dominant side, particularly in the first half.”

“If we want to get the job done next week, we’ll need an unbelievably mature performance,” said SC head coach Streich after the game and ahead of the upcoming journey to England. The second leg takes place next Thursday (14th March) at the London Stadium (18:45 CET).

Photo: Achim Keller