Union Berlin inflict rare home loss on Freiburg
Andrej Ilić got a goal and an assist as Union Berlin came from behind to claim a vital victory in their survival hopes away at Freiburg, whose seven-game unbeaten streak came to an end.
Freiburg 1-2 Union Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Höler 29' (assist: Grifo), 1-1 Khedira 30' (assist: Ilić), 1-2 Ilić 48' (assist: Skarke)
The first half was a tightly contested affair with both teams showing their intent early on. Union Berlin faced an early setback when Wooyeong Jeong had to be substituted in the eighth minute due to an ankle injury, with Tim Skarke coming on in his place. The deadlock was finally broken in the 29th minute when Lucas Höler put Freiburg ahead, capitalising on a well-crafted move. However, Union's response was swift and decisive. Just a minute later, Rani Khedira levelled the score, silencing the home crowd and setting the stage for an intriguing second half.
The second half began with a bang as Union took the lead just three minutes after the restart. Ilić demonstrated his aerial prowess, connecting with a cross from Skarke to head home what would prove to be the winning goal. Freiburg's woes compounded when goalkeeper Noah Atubolu had to be replaced by Florian Müller in the 58th minute due to an injury sustained earlier in the match. Despite dominating possession and pushing for an equaliser, Freiburg struggled to break down Union's resolute defence. The match intensity increased in the latter stages, with several players receiving yellow cards, including Khedira, Matthias Ginter and Andrej Ilić.
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Player of the Match: Andrej Ilić
Ilić emerged as the standout performer in Union's victory. His winning goal early in the second half was a testament to his aerial ability and perfect timing, while he also got the assist for Khedira's equaliser. Beyond the goal, Ilić's overall contribution was significant, as he won nine duels throughout the match, the highest among Union players. His presence up front provided a constant threat to Freiburg's defence, allowing his team to maintain pressure even with less possession.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Freiburg 1.74 - Union Berlin 1.23
Fastest player: Benedict Hollerbach (Union), 34.12 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-1 by Rani Khedira (Union), 11 percent
Most pressed player: Benedict Hollerbach (Union), 21 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Janik Haberer (Union), +1.78
Fantasy Heroes: Vincenzo Grifo (Freiburg, 200 Points), Rani Khedira (Union, 180 Points), Andrej Ilić (Union, 175 Points)
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