AAP Soccer

Double brace helps Freiburg thrash Werder Bremen

By AAP Newswire

Feb 22, 2025

Freiburg's Ritsu Doan notched a brace in the 5-0 rout of Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. -AP

Kiliann Sildillia's perfect overhead kick lit up Freiburg's 5-0 home win over Werder Bremen as the Black Forest side moved to fourth in the Bundesliga.

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Sildillia's acrobatics after a Vincenzo Grifo's corner was flicked on gave the hosts a 15th-minute lead and it was soon 2-0 through Grifo's curling free-kick into the bottom corner.

It was redemption for the Italian after his "Panenka" penalty was saved in last weekend's 1-0 win over St Pauli, Freiburg's sixth missed spot-kick in a row.

Fortunately for the hosts, they can also keep penalties out and Noah Atubolu saved his fourth spot-kick in two seasons from Bremen new boy André Silva - after Sildillia had handled.

An unmarked Grifo then turned in Lucas Höler's cross in the second half to seal a fourth straight league win before Ritsu Doan scored his own double late on.

Freiburg are two points ahead of RB Leipzig in the prized final Champions League spot ahead of the Red Bulls hosting struggling Heidenheim on Sunday.

Freiburg have never reached the Champions League.

Bremen are 10th after a third successive Bundesliga loss.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press