SC Freiburg 1-2 West Ham United
UEFA Europa League Group A, Stadion am Wolfswinkel, Thursday 5 October 2023
West Ham United set a new record for consecutive unbeaten European matches for an English team with a 2-1 win away to SC Freiburg.
Lucas Paquetá’s superb header on eight minutes and Nayef Aguerd’s excellent goal from James Ward Prowse’s corner – his eighth goal involvement in as many appearances – in the second half mean the Hammers are now 17 games without loss in European games.
Hosts Freiburg had levelled the match at 1-1 on 49 minutes through Roland Sallai’s determined finish at the third time of asking, after exquisite saves by Łukasz Fabiański.
In truth, the visitors could have scored even more, with Mohammed Kudus striking the woodwork and Paquetá seeing another effort ruled out for offside.
Nonetheless, it was in Germany against Eintracht Frankfurt a little under 18 months ago that the Hammers last tasted European defeat, and it was particularly poignant for the Club to set a new unbeaten record for an English side in the same country after such a resolute and, at times, exhilarating showing.
The roar of 34,100 SC Freiburg fans met the Hammers as they walked out against their German opposition and, with the Claret and Blue Army enforcedly absent, David Moyes’ side went into a tough Group A tie without their twelfth man.
However, the visitors looked in the mood to silence the home crowd and make an early imprint on the game. Kudus, back in the starting XI, in particular was bright in the opening exchanges, with a drive forward stopped only by Lukas Kübler’s well-timed tackle.
The Irons would not let the early pressure go, though, and made the most of a well-crafted opportunity eight minutes in. More Kudus magic led to Vladimír Coufal collecting the ball, before passing off to front man Bowen.
The England international had found himself on his favoured right flank and he played in a teasing cross that was too good to pass up for Paquetá. On his 50th showing in Claret and Blue, the Brazilian leaped so high he almost reached the sky, over defender Matthias Ginter, and turned a powerful header into the Freiburg net.
The early deficit seemed to shock Freiburg, who were fortunate to not find themselves two, or even three, goals down early on against the Irons.
Kudus’s low shot was straight at home goalkeeper Noah Atubolo but the 21-year-old spilled the effort, and could only watch as the ball squirmed against the base of the far post.
Moments later, another flowing West Ham move resulted in Paquetá putting the ball into the goal again. The midfield maestro’s left-footed effort found the roof of the net, but was quickly chalked off thanks to the linesman’s offside flag.
Freiburg, spurred on by their home support, looked for a way through, but were limited to half-chances in the first half. A ball into Kübler was intercepted by Nayef Aguerd before Sallai’s delivery was calmly caught by Fabiański.
Ward-Prowse tested Atubolu with a low effort as the first 45 minutes came to a close; a half manager Moyes and his side would have certainly been delighted by.
Freiburg head coach Christian Streich sought a response early in the second half, bringing on Japan international winger Ritsu Doan at the interval in a bid to add more attacking impetus for his side.
It was a move that paid off almost immediately for the hosts, who found their leveller on 49 minutes. Midfielder Sallai’s first effort, in a crowded West Ham penalty box, was excellently saved by Łukasz Fabiański. So too was the volleyed follow-up from Kübler.
It looked like the experienced Pole had pulled off the miraculous, but Sallai was in the right place and, at the third time of asking, found the back of the net.
Suddenly Stadion am Wolfswinkel was rocking again, and the home supporters gave their side the push to go in search of the lead. It almost came just minutes later too, as Kiliann Sildillia found himself alone at the far post. His header back across goal struck the upright, before striker Lucas Höler fired over from close range.
The pattern of the game had been flipped on its head. Having been so dominant in the first half, the Irons suddenly needed to get a foothold back in the match.
It perhaps take a moment of individual magic to do just that and Kudus looked a possible source, having been so vibrant in the first 45 minutes. His teasing cross on 65 minutes was almost turned in by Bowen, only to be blocked away for a corner.
From that set piece would come the second for West Ham. Ward-Prowse’s deliveries had been, once again, exceptional all evening. This time Aguerd was first to the corner-kick and, unchallenged, the Morocco international turned his header into the net via the underside of the crossbar.
With the advantage restored, Moyes introduced Tomáš Souček and Emerson for the final 20 minutes, with the Irons looking to contain the hosts and keep the lead.
Kudus’ performance deserved another European goal and the 23-year-old had his best chance of the night on 79 minutes, only for his low effort from Paquetá’s precise pass to go just past the far post.
The brilliance of Paquetá showed right up until the closing exchanges as the No10 evaded challenges from four Freiburg players before dinking a delightful ball into Bowen’s run. It was almost like Prague again, only for Bowen’s effort to this time go agonisingly wide.
It would not matter in the grand scheme of the result though and it would be in Germany, the nation where the Irons last tasted European defeat, that West Ham United would go 17 games unbeaten in European competition.
An incredible record to go with a hard-fought three points.
SC Freiburg: Atubolu, Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart, Sallai, Eggestein (Röhl 75), Höfler (Philipp 75), Kübler (Weißhaupt 75), Adamu (Doan 46), Grifo © (Breunig 87), Höler
Subs not used: Müller (GK), Uphoff (GK), Schmidt, Gulde, Makengo, Rüdlin,
Goal: Sallai 49
Booked: Höfler
West Ham United: Fabiański ©, Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Kehrer, (Emerson 71) Álvarez, Ward-Prowse (Ings 90+1), Fornals (Souček 71), Paquetá (Mubama 90), Kudus (Benrahma 80), Bowen
Subs not used: Areola (GK), Anang (GK), Zouma, Ogbonna, Coventry, Cornet
Goals: Paquetá 8, Aguerd 66
Booked: Álvarez
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim (Sweden)
Attendance: 34,100
