By Daily Sports on December 20, 2021
Kevin Schade poached a late winning goal on Sunday as Freiburg finished 2021 third in the Bundesliga table after a 2-1 home win over Bayer Leverkusen.
The 20-year-old Schade came off the bench and stole a march on Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky at a corner to tap the winner into the net six minutes from time.
Freiburg coach Christian Streich let out a primal scream at the final whistle as his team go into the winter break in their highest league ranking in the club's history.
“We really wanted to be third over the festive period,” goal-scorer Vincenzo Grifo told DAZN.
“When we look at the table over Christmas, it makes for good reading.”
Freiburg took the lead at their Europa Park Stadium in Germany’s Black Forest when Italy forward Grifo chipped in a first-half penalty.
Leverkusen equalised just before the break when Germany defender Jonathan Tah hooked a pass to Charles Aranguiz who headed past the Freiburg goalkeeper.
However, with time running out Schade ghosted in front of Hradecky and flicked the ball into the net to the despair of the Leverkusen goalkeeper.
Freiburg’s defence has conceded a club-record low of 16 league goals in the first half of the season. The hosts’ worked tirelessly to contain Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick who scored eight goals in his previous three Bundesliga games.
Freiburg’s win saw them leap-frog Leverkusen into third spot, 14 points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. The Bavarian giants are on course to win a tenth straight Bundesliga title and start the two-week winter break nine points clear at the top of the table after Friday’s 4-0 thrashing of Wolfsburg.
Second-placed Borussia Dortmund blew the chance to trim Bayern’s huge lead on Saturday when they slumped to a 3-2 defeat at Hertha Berlin. (AFP)
•PHOTO: Freiburg scorer Schade
Source Daily Sports
Posted December 20, 2021
You may also like...
Man Utd Chiefs Respond To James Loan Rumours...
Van Dijk Wants To Become Liverpool Legend
Ronaldo Scores As Juve Seal Ninth Serie A...
Official: Ikeme out of Algeria World Cup Qualifier...
AITEO Cup: Participating teams to share gate takings...
Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold, Jota Fit For Watford Game
NPFL: Kwara United slams post-match violence after Rivers United clash
Widow, late Nigerian boxer’s family clash over estate
Falcons recall Okobi-Okeoghene, Monday for Cameroon friendlies
Lagos SWAN Chairman, Amb. Olatutu Oladunni, and EXCO Members Extend Ramadan and Lenten Greetings to Muslim and Christian Faithful Across Lagos
Lookman battles Onyedika in UCL knockout play-off
Osimhen’s Galatasaray thrash Juve 5-2 in UCL first leg playoff
Para-badminton star Bolaji emerges World No. 1 after Bahrain tourney
Falcons to face Cameroon in pre-WAFCON friendlies
Ondo athletes eye Niger Delta Games top spot
Onyekwere-Lyons eyes double Commonwealth Games glory
Priestly Ordination: Igbawase Irotier Family Now Has A Priest
W’Cup: Nigeria’s wait continues as FIFA delays DR Congo verdict
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,567 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,875 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,787 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,422 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,337 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,257 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,124 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,672 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,843 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,374 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,762 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,233 views)