The approximately 450 travelling SC supporters were treated to a quintessentially British football experience on their way to Fir Park. After walking through a residential area, the stadium suddenly appeared in front of them, barely distinguishable from the surrounding houses. Motherwell’s home ground was the setting for Thursday evening’s UEFA Conference League play-off first leg – and SC’s first competitive match of the 2026/27 season.

There were 8,950 fans inside Fir Park on Thursday evening, and the 8,500 backing the hosts had reason to celebrate after just two minutes. Ibrahim Said was afforded plenty of time and space on the left before sending a low cross into the middle for Regan Charles-Cook. The powerful forward struck it first time from around 12 yards out, leaving Mio Backhaus in the SC goal no chance and putting the Steelmen ahead. “That’s obviously not how you want to start a game and it was exactly what we wanted to avoid,” said Julian Schuster.

Freiburg threaten from set pieces

The Freiburg coaching staff named almost exactly the same side that had started the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace in their final pre-season friendly, with just one alteration. Derry Scherhant came into the side on the left in place of Vincenzo Grifo, who began on the bench.

Scherhant was involved in Freiburg’s first few dangerous attacks. The 23-year-old delivered SC’s first corner after eight minutes. The loose ball eventually fell to Philipp Treu, whose effort from distance flew narrowly wide. Two minutes later, another Scherhant delivery, this time from a free kick, was controlled well by Matthias Ginter, who forced Motherwell 'keeper Alex Paulsen into a save from point-blank range. Scherhant then struck the outside of the post with a 25-yard free kick in the 22nd minute.

SC responded well to the early setback and found the equaliser in the 28th minute. Ginter met another Scherhant free kick with a glancing header that flew beyond Paulsen and into the far corner. The goal was awarded despite a four-minute VAR review, during which Romanian referee Radu Marian Petrescu sent both teams for a drinks break. It remained 1-1 at half time, thanks in part to an excellent save from Paulsen to keep out Igor Matanovic’s powerful long-range effort (36’).

Ginter at the double

Motherwell had defended very deep in the first half but began pressing SC higher after the break, leaving more space in behind their midfield. In the 61st minute, Yuito Suzuki played the returning Yannik Engelhardt through on goal, only for Martin Moormann to pull him down by the shoulder inside the penalty area. Referee Petrescu initially showed a yellow card before reviewing the incident at the monitor and changing his decision to a red. Ginter kept his composure with the resulting spot kick and slotted home to make it 2-1 (65’).

Motherwell offered little attacking threat after going down to ten men, while SCF continued to look the more dangerous side. Scherhant tested the New Zealand international goalkeeper again from a tight angle in the 75th minute.

A dominant but narrow 2-1 victory looked to be on the cards for Freiburg. The five indicated minutes of added time had already elapsed when substitute Vincenzo Grifo placed the ball down for one final corner. His delivery found fellow substitute Keisuke Goto, who headed home his first goal for Freiburg (90’+6).

“If you take the opening few minutes out of it, I’m very pleased,” said Julian Schuster after the game. “We managed to come from behind to win away from home and gave very little away defensively.” Before the second leg at the Europa-Park Stadion next Thursday, SC travel to third-tier Fortuna Düsseldorf in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. That match will kick off at 18:00 CEST on Sunday.

Photo: Ryan Crockett / DeFodi Images