On Saturday morning, the centre of Bremen marketplace was bustling with SCF fans. Among them were some of the 2,500 supporters who had travelled up north, but also others that live in Bremen. “Oh, you’re from Freiburg,” said a nice old lady at a coffee stand. She has been living in Bremen for over sixty years, comes from the Netherlands, and yet still has a connection to SC. “They’re my favourite club, so I’m hoping for a draw today.”

SC were forced to make one change to the XI that took on Stuttgart last weekend due to Johan Manzambi’s red card. Junior Adamu took his place in the line-up, with Lucas Höler as a 10 behind the striker. He and his teammates were able to put the opposition under pressure early on. After possession was lost in the host’s half and a quick break, Bremen would have the first opportunity to open the scoring, Justin Njinmah tested Noah Atubolu with a shot from an acute angle, but the goalkeeper was equal to his effort (10’). 

Grifo scores from the spot

Freiburg had their first real sight at goal in the 18th minute. Possession progressed down the left wing, before Patrick Osterhage found Adamu in the six-yard box with a cross. The ball was slightly behind the attacker, which meant that he didn’t get the power he needed on the shot and SVW keeper Mio Backhaus parried it away from danger. There weren’t many chances for the fans to get excited about. As a result, it was hardly surprising that a set-piece tipped the balance of the game in SCF’s favour. After a handball in the box, referee Timo Gerach pointed to the spot. Vincenzo Grifo stepped up and coolly converted the penalty to put the visitors ahead (33’).

Werder had their second good opportunity of the match seven minutes later. Marco Friedl let fly from distance but missed the target by a few yards. It was an open, even game as the SC players flew into tackles and had promising counterattacks. In the 44th minute, Niklas Beste received the ball in the box. Despite being unmarked, he couldn’t slot the ball past Backhaus to extend SCF’s advantage. In added time, Höler teed up Grifo and the goalscorer’s shot whistled just over the bar.

Atubolu saves penalty

The second half began with a lot of frustration for the home side, since a lot of referee Gerach’s decisions went SC’s way. Werder played with more freedom after the interval and were the more active side. Njinmah saw his effort from 14 yards out saved by Atubolu. In the 55th minute, the excitement was followed by silence for the Bremen fans and jubilation in the away end. Beste had time and space to whip a cross into the box from the right wing and aimed for Adamu in the centre of the box. All the striker had to do was hold out his foot and poke the ball home to make it 2-0 to Freiburg.

In the 57th minute, VAR intervened in the action after Jordy Makengo was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area. After heading to the pitchside monitor and reviewing the moment himself, the referee agreed with the video assistant’s call and awarded a penalty to Werder. Romano Schmid, who had previously scored twice from the spot this season, took the penalty but was denied by Atubolu. Freiburg’s number 1 made the save to maintain his side’s two-goal lead. It was his fifth penalty save in a row. “Atu’s penalty save was an incredibly important reason for the win,” said Julian Schuster after the final whistle.

Own goal decides game

Bremen refused to back down, though, and had another opportunity in the 67th minute through Yukinari Sugawara. The Japan international’s shot flew just over the frame of the goal. Victor Boniface’s header from eight yards out landed safely in Atubolu’s hands and Puerta’s volley was inches away from getting a goal back for Werder (73’).

SCF’s defensive solidity was matched by the threats they created going forward. When Backhaus could only parry substitute Derry Scherhant’s back into the danger zone, Adamu put off his marker so much that the ball went in to make it 3-0 (75’). In the remaining 15 minutes, Freiburg invited pressure from the hosts but defended magnificently and didn’t give Werder a sniff. Höler even had the opportunity to make it 4-0 in the eight minutes of stoppage time, but missed from 12 yards out. “The team were very disciplined today. They stayed patient and defended well as a unit. We didn’t want to give Bremen much space today and we managed to do just that,” noted Schuster after Freiburg’s first away win of the season.

The final whistle confirmed SCF’s second win in a row. It may not have been the ideal result for the woman from the Bremen marketplace, but she will be happy with the three points for her favourite team.

Photo: DeFodi