DFB Cup: SC Freiburg with late goals in the quarterfinals
DFB Cup
SC Freiburg with late goals in the quarterfinals
The SC Freiburg players celebrate the 1-0 lead at SV Sandhausen. photo
© Uwe Anspach/dpa
SC Freiburg is dominant in Sandhausen, but needs the help of the second division team to progress. Two late goals ended the underdog’s dream of reaching the quarters.
Freiburg Coach Christian Streich gave consolation to the brave cup losers from Sandhausen, and his footballers celebrated their return to the quarter-finals enthusiastically with the fans. Goal joker Nils Petersen grabbed the megaphone, clapped along with the fans and was just happy after his first goal.
His teammate Philip Lienhart puzzled in front of the Sky microphone whether he paved the way for the hard-fought 2-0 (0-0) success in the round of 16. “I don’t know, I would take the goal,” said the Austrian. “In the end we got our reward and that’s important.”
“We’re really happy that we’re through”
Freiburg had never scored before the 82nd minute in the previous rounds – and that’s how it was again this time: After a corner by Vincenzo Grifo, Lienhart scored – but the goal was an own goal Sandhausens Attacker Hamadi Al Ghaddioui (87′). Petersen then eliminated the last doubts with his goal in injury time. “We’re really happy that we’re through,” said Freiburg’s sporting director Jochen Saier.
In front of 11,782 spectators, Sandhausen braced itself against the impending end, but in the end missed out on reaching the last eight for the first time since the 1985/86 season. Coach Prank had already feared that the SVS would be well prepared for the Freiburg attack efforts. “We know what’s coming. They will be in a good position. Partly because Alois is the coach there,” he said about his colleague Alois Schwartz the day before the Baden-Württemberg duel.
You know and appreciate each other. During their playing days, they trained together at the Stuttgarter Kickers. Later attended black after his release in Nuremberg with Streich im Breisgau.
And the SC coach should be right. The SVS held back compactly and the Sport-Club only managed two promising final positions through Roland Sallai (5th/6th). The Hungarian, who made steam down the right wing, was one of five new players after the 5-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund last Saturday.
Freiburg struggled
Schwartz had accepted the underdog role without hesitation, but at the same time saw a small opportunity for his team. “They’ve lost twice away from home now,” he said just before the game. “I hope the confidence isn’t that great. We need a good day, a good goalkeeper, a bit of match luck. Then maybe we have a chance.”
Freiburg found it difficult and Streich expressed his displeasure with gestures and shouts. In the minutes before the break, his team picked up the pace again, but Michael Gregoritsch aimed his shot too high (37′) and former SVS pro Lukas Kübler also headed wide (41′).
Even after the change of sides, the sports club sometimes had more than 70 percent possession of the ball. The sixth in the Bundesliga made little use of his advantages. Streich reacted and brought in a second striker in Lucas Höler, but Grifo had the most dangerous chance. The shot was blocked by an SVS defender (70′).
In the end, however, the favorites still celebrated because the ball bounced off Al Ghaddioui’s arm and into their own goal. Substitute Petersen also scored in added time.
