Two goals, two assists: Lois Openda leads RBL to a 4-1 win in Freiburg

Third away win in a row!

The Red Bulls got off to a dream start and went ahead after just 61 seconds throughAmadou Haidara, who was spot on after a cross fromLois Openda. The Red Bulls then dictated the action, Lois Openda devoured SCF defender Lukas Kübler and increased the score (18’). In the 25th minute our number 17 nearly doubled his haul, but Freiburg’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu made a strong save.

Only then did the home team find their way into the game better and had the opportunity to tie the game with a penalty, as Lois handled the ball after a corner. However, Lucas Höler could only hit the crossbar with a penalty (39’). Shortly before the break it was “Bouzou’s” turn again, our striker intervened after a failed Freiburg back pass and completed his brace.

The hosts came out of the locker room with momentum, Ritsu Doan shot over the box. Almost in return, RBL played the next counterattack perfectly. Lois Openda passed again toBenjamin Sesko, who had no trouble (54′). Five minutes later, Vincenzo Grifo got Freiburg on the scoreboard with a well-placed long-range shot.

Leipzig managed the victory from there, with a Roland Sallai header hitting the crossbar at one end (77′) before Xavi Simons fired narrowly wide at the other (88′). It was a well-deserved third consecutive win on the road.

How did the game go? Here you can find all the highlights and statistics.

Bundesliga | SC Freiburg – RB Leipzig

STARTING LINE UPS

SCF: Atubolu – Keitel (86′ Philipp), Kübler (46′ Sildillia), Gulde – Höfler, Eggestein, Günter (C), Doan – Höler (75′ Sallai), Röhl (86′ Makengo), Gregoritsch (46′ Grifo)

RBL: Gulacsi– Henrichs (75′ Simakan), Orban (C), Castello Jr., Raum – Haidara (83′ Seiwald), Schlager – Xavi (90′ Klostermann), Olmo (75′ Baumgartner) – Openda, Sesko (83′ Elmas)

SCF Unused Subs: Müller (Tor) – Adamu, Muslija

RBL Unused Subs: Blaswich (Tor)– Lenz, Bitshiabu, Kampl

GOALS

0:1 Haidara (2′), 0:2 Openda (18′), 0:3 Openda (45′), 0:4 Sesko (54′), 1:4 Grifo (59′)

YELLOW CARDS

Höler (5), Doan (1), Sallai (4) | Schlager (6), Raum (5), Orban (2), Henrichs (2)

REFEREES

1. Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)

1st Assistent: Jan Seidel (Hennigsdorf)

2nd Assistent: Rafael Foltyn (Wiesbaden)

Fourth Official: Timo Gerach (Landau)

Video Assistant Referee: Sascha Stegemann (Niederkassel)

ATTENDANCE

33.200 in Europa-Park-Stadion

2nd Minute: Lightning start thanks to Haidara

Yesss, are you seeing this? RBL strikes after just 61 seconds. Benjamin Henrichs sends Lois Openda up the right side, whose cross is converted by Doudou Haidara.

14th Minute: RBL controls the game

Our team is very dominant in the early stages and hasn’t allowed anything defensively so far. If there is enough space, we play forward quickly, often from the right. Freiburg has let us have our say up to this point and is relying on switching moments.

18th Minute: Openda time!

Ice water in the veins of the Red Bull! Lois Openda runs onto the ball after a pass from Dani Olmo and only has SCF defender Lukas Kübler in front of him. Our number 17 deals with it perfectly in the penalty area and then hits the Freiburg goal with a powerful finish.

25th Minute: Xavi to Openda, Atubolu saves

Next counterattack that becomes extremely dangerous. Xavi plays the ball right into the path of Lois Openda, who is up and away. Noah Atubolu in the hosts’ goal prevents the third goal with his foot.

30th Minute: Long distance shot from Gregoritsch

Peter Gulacsi called into action. Our keeper has to deal with a flutter ball from Michael Gregoritsch. Uncomfortable, but not a problem.

41st Minute: Freiburg misses a penalty

Phew, penalty for Freiburg. VAR reports and shows a handball by Lois Openda a few moments earlier after a Freiburg corner. Lucas Höler steps up and luckily puts the penalty on the crossbar.

45th Minute: Openda Brace

Wow, just before the break we hit the next punch. Yannik Keitel fails to return the ball to his own keeper and once again Lois is the beneficiary. “Bouzou” pounces and nets his 21st goal of the season from the turn.

52nd Minute: Doan over the goal

Freiburg are trying to forget the first half. Peter Gulacsi deflects the ball from a corner kick and Ritsu Doan plucks it out of the air. The angle becomes a bit acute and the ball goes over the goal.

54th Minute: Sesko continues on

That smells like a change in momentum, because our first really strong attack in the second half is in place. And again it goes over the right side: Benny Henrichs to Lois Openda, who crosses again to Benjamin Sesko. 4:0!

59th Minute: Grifo strikes back

Now Freiburg is also on the scoreboard. Vincenzo Grifo receives a low ball on the edge of the penalty area and hits the corner of the net.

76th Minute: SCF header hits the crossbar

Another scare! After a long throw-in and a header onward, Roland Sallai heads onto the crossbar.

86th Minute: Xavi just over

It almost fit. Xavi finishes in the SCF penalty area and pushes the ball just centimeters past the left post. The set up, of course, came from Lois Openda.