Freiburg - Inspired by a second-half hat-trick from debutant Nils Petersen, Freiburg came from behind to beat Frankfurt 4-1 and record their third win of the season.

The comeback kings

Marco Russ put the visitors ahead with a minute on the clock, but the Eagles couldn’t capitalise on their first-half dominance. Introduced at half time, Petersen watched Vladimir Darida convert from the penalty spot in the 61st minute, before bagging a lupenreiner Hattrick on a debut to remember.

Freiburg coach Christian Streich uttered a rallying call to his side pre-match, but his words had seemingly fallen on deaf ears. No Freiburg player cleared Marc Stendera’s free kick, and Russ was waiting at the back post to fire home inside 60 seconds. Sensing blood, Thomas Schaaf’s Frankfurt dominated the opening period, coming close through Bundesliga top scorer Alex Meier in the 22nd minute and Stendera before the break, while Mike Frantz spurned the hosts’ only real chance in the 25th minute.

Mehmedi fired the first shot of the second period wide and it was clear Streich’s half-time words had had an effect. The introduction of Nils Petersen added more fluidity to their attack, and Darida made no mistake from the spot on the hour-mark after Christian Günter had been fouled. Within a minute, the game had turned completely on its head when Petersen side-footed past Kevin Trapp after a lightning-fast counter. The debutant’s second shot in Freiburg colours seven minutes later also beat Trapp, and the rampant hosts ensured the loanee completed his hat-trick with one final counter-attack a minute from time.

Line-ups and statistics

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