Grifo the hero as Freiburg beat Frankfurt
SC Freiburg extended their record-breaking run at home to nine consecutive games after Vincenzo Grifo's first Bundesliga goal stopped Eintracht Frankfurt in their tracks.
SC Freiburg 1-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Grifo (4')
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Although keen to continue a fine run of form that had seen the Eagles unbeaten in their previous three games, the visitors' sloppy start allowed Vincenzo Grifo to curl home Onur Bulut's assist and give Freiburg the early lead. As they probed for an equaliser, Niko Kovac's side were susceptible on the break and almost went 2-0 behind when Florian Niederlechner just failed to connect with Grifo's centre. Omar Mascarell and Haris Seferovic's unsuccessful attempts from range preceded an Alexander Meier header that flashed just wide as Freiburg held on until the break.
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The Black Forest team sparked back into life after the restart, with the menacing Maximilian Philipp unleashing an effort that deflected wickedly off Jesus Vallejo and was tipped over by Lukas Hradecky in the Frankfurt goal. Mike Frantz then found the crossbar as the hosts' continued to search for a second. At the other end, Meier again came agonisingly close to an equaliser, the 33-year-old attacker missing the target by a fraction after finding himself well-placed and unmarked. That proved the final scare for last season's Bundesliga 2 champions, whose record-breaking sequence at home extends to nine games.
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Talking Point
Beaten by Borussia Dortmund last Friday, Christian Streich may have feared for his team's morale with the in-form Frankfurt in town. Having taken an early lead in their sixth Bundesliga outing, however, Freiburg showed some slick in-game management to frustrate their opponents who could find no way through.
Match Stats
- Freiburg's opener was the first goal they have scored in the first half this season.Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac never lost to Freiburg as a player.Grifo's fourth-minute opener was his first Bundesliga goal.
Line-ups
Freiburg: Schwolow - Stenzel, Höfler, Söyüncü, Günter - Frantz (Niedermeier 77'), Abrashi - Bulut (Haberer 85'), Grifo - Niederlechner (Petersen 68'), Philipp
Coach: Christian Streich
Frankfurt: Hradecky - Chandler, Abraham, Vallejo, Oczipka (Tawatha 80') - Hasebe - Mascarell, Huszti (Blum 75') - Fabian - Meier, Seferovic (Tarashaj 58')
Coach: Niko Kovac