SC Freiburg Ends Losing Streak with 3-2 Win Over VfL Wolfsburg
SC Freiburg secured a crucial 3-2 DFB-Pokal victory over VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday evening, marking a critical turnaround after experiencing three consecutive defeats across all competitions. Veteran defender Matthias Ginter and striker Igor Matanovic discussed the importance of avoiding another setback in their post-match comments to Kicker’s Carsten Schröter-Lorenz.
Previously, Freiburg entered the match on the back of a successful Bundesliga win against Schalke 04, followed by a 3-2 Conference League triumph over FK Jablonec on October 15. In that match, Vincenzo Grifo initiated the scoring with a free kick, an own goal allowed Freiburg to regain their lead early in the second half, and Maximilian Eggestein netted the pivotal third goal. Although the hosts controlled much of the action, a late goal from Jablonec created a tense conclusion.
Advertisement
This victory, however, marked Freiburg’s last win for nearly two weeks. They faced a 2-1 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on October 18, which began an unfortunate streak. Their situation worsened with a 3-0 loss to Monaco in the Conference League just four days later.
The decline continued against Bayern Munich, where Freiburg initially fell two goals behind before a Tom Bischof own goal narrowed the gap in the 82nd minute. Despite a late surge for an equalizer, they conceded a third goal in stoppage time, resulting in a 3-1 defeat, and setting the stage for potential fourth straight losses against Wolfsburg.
The match started ominously, as Igor Matanovic put Freiburg ahead in the sixth minute, only for Kento Shiogai to quickly equalize and later add a second goal just before halftime. Freiburg struggled to make the most of their chances after the break, with a reversed penalty decision and an offside ruling derailing their efforts to equalize.
However, substitute Keisuke Goto turned the tide, heading home a corner from Grifo in the 76th minute and striking a stunning stoppage-time winner from Philipp Lienhart’s long ball. Freiburg’s victory not only guaranteed their advancement but also halted their losing streak. Their next challenge awaits against Augsburg on Saturday.
Advertisement
Ginter Prepares for Upcoming Challenges
Ginter expressed the significance of this win, highlighting how damaging another defeat could have been for the team’s morale during a grueling schedule. “To lose here after three straight losses would have made matters much worse,” he remarked about the importance of the victory. “As I said on Sunday, we have a make-or-break game in all three competitions that can influence our direction. Advancing in this competition is a step forward. We face tough matches against Augsburg [on Saturday] and Trabzonspor [next Thursday].”
His comments highlighted how the DFB-Pokal victory served as a vital stepping stone to escape a downward trend, with tough league and cup matches upcoming.
Advertisement
With their passage secured to the third round of the domestic cup, Freiburg now shifts focus to Saturday’s encounter in Augsburg, followed by a trip to Turkey next Thursday to face Trabzonspor. They hope to build on this momentous victory to gain momentum going forward.
Matanovic Acknowledges Team’s Resilience
Matanovic, who scored the initial goal, felt a sense of relief in avoiding yet another disappointing outcome. He emphasized the value of patience and perseverance in a match that seemed to slip from their grasp at times.
“It would have been extremely bitter if we lost today,” Matanovic reflected. “We were behind for a significant period, but that’s what distinguishes us. I’ve always stated that we wait for our chances and work hard for them. Today, we proved that we’re not to be underestimated, even until the last moments.”
Advertisement
The 22-year-old provided insights into Freiburg’s string of recent struggles, contrasting the disappointing performance against Monaco with their encouraging phases against Bayern Munich. “It was difficult to explain the three losses,” he acknowledged. “The game against Monaco was not good, but we showed promise against Bayern during some segments. Losing today would have been a tough blow, but we never really considered that possibility.”
Matanovic highlighted the importance of their determined approach. They pushed hard for a winner, even after Goto’s equalizer, without forsaking their responsibilities on the field.
Advertisement
“We stayed focused on executing our game plan and remained patient until the end. As I said, we were engaged all the way up to 90+5. We never gave up. We all knew to keep pushing for the win until the very last minute. Once we went ahead, everyone worked to defend our lead. It was all about hard work.”
Wednesday’s victory provided a notable contrast to Freiburg’s previous European success. Unlike against Jablonec, where they established a two-goal advantage only to allow their opponents back into the contest, Freiburg found themselves chasing against Wolfsburg but managed to secure victory with a decisive last-minute goal.
Whether this win marks a true turning point for Freiburg remains uncertain, but for now, they have halted their losing streak, maintained their DFB-Pokal hopes, and gained a much-needed boost in advance of two upcoming critical fixtures.
