SC Freiburg will have to wait until matchday 34 to find out which European competition they will be playing in next season. SC made one change to the team that won in Hoffenheim last time out. Wooyeong Jeong replaced Manuel Gulde, meaning Freiburg began with a back-four instead. This defence was put under a considerable amount of pressure early on, with the visitors getting at SC in the opening stages. This pressure saw them take the lead in the 11th minute. After the ball deflected off the post via Maximilian Eggestein, Grischa Prömel was there on the line to tap home to make it 1-0.

SC goal ruled out, Union score twice

The Berliners sat back somewhat after their early goal, also because of the way SC reacted. Streich’s men had two good chances through Jeong and Grifo, however Union were able to prevent them from equalising. It did, however, look like Freiburg had found a leveller in the 23rd minute when Lucas Höler hit the back of the net. The video assistant referee informed referee Felix Brych of a suspected handball by Höler in the build-up and the goal was subsequently chalked off. “Union started well. We got the equaliser but it didn’t count. In my opinion, it was the wrong decision. They were really clinical after that,” said a disappointed Christian Streich after the game.

Instead of 1-1, it was soon 2-0 to Union. A cross from the left was headed home by Christopher Trimmel, leaving Mark Flekken with no chance (30’). The away side, with a solid defence, kept getting chances thanks to their quick strikers. Taiwo Awoniyi headed narrowly over the bar (39’), before Sheraldo Becker made it 3-0 in the 41st minute, beating Flekken from a counter-attack.

It was an intense and fiery game throughout. Freiburg were often frustrated due to some refereeing decisions that often seemed to favour the Berliners. The final notable moment of the first period was when Roland Sallai’s shot from inside the box went well over.

Lots of shooting opportunities

SC, who brought on Nils Petersen for Jeong for the start of the second half, started well and had the first good chance. Sallai set up Höler from the right, but he couldn’t quite get it under control. The forward had the next opportunity too, striking just over (51’). Freiburg kept pushing and pushing for a way back into the game, and the away side could count themselves lucky not to have conceded, particularly when Nils Petersen’s header from two yards out went over Luthe’s goal (54’). The next man to try and beat him was Schlotterbeck from distance, an effort which Luthe punched away (56’).

Finally, in the 59th minute, SC got their goal. Sallai played in Höler and he scored to reduce the deficit. However, the goal was initially ruled out for offside, but VAR confirmed the goal this time instead of disallowing it like in the first half. Freiburg kept fighting in search of further goals, but Union sat deep and waited for both chances to break and to waste time. “We had some luck during this period. We could have conceded more than one goal,” admitted Union boss Urs Fischer.

There were fewer chances after Freiburg’s goal, even though the hosts had the majority of the ball. Maximilian Eggestein had a header from a cross go over the goal (80’) and Vincenzo Grifo’s low drive from range was blocked for a corner. Union then killed the game off in injury time via substitute András Schäfer. He beat three players and then Flekken with a shot into the corner to seal a 4-1 win. Streich commented after the game: “We defended badly and were the worst team on the pitch. Union Berlin deserved to win.”

Poto: Achim Keller