Slovan Liberec missed the chance to qualify from Group H of the Europa League as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat to German side Freiburg.
The first half had very few chances and it was the German side who got themselves ahead as Matthias Ginter lobbed the ball back over the goalkeeper's head after a failed clearance from a corner.
They scored what looked to be the winner through a Francis Coquelin header and despite a nervy finish after a goal from Serhiy Rybalka they held on for a crucial three points.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Good evening European football fans! It's time for the Europa League now and first up for you I have Slovan Liberec vs. Freiburg.
This is a big game for both these teams. The hosts know that a win will put them into the next round, while Freiburg can get themselves right back on track with victory.
The German side have yet to win in Group H so far and failure to do so again tonight will surely see them eliminated. They haven't really deserved any more than they have got so far, either, as they just have not been good enough. Now would be a good time to fix that, though.
Right, the teams are in so let me get the news right across to you.
LIBEREC XI: Kovar; Kelic, Kusnir, Kovac, Fleisman; Pavelka, Rybalka, Sackey, Rabusic; Sural, Delarge
FREIBURG XI: Baumann; Krmas, Diagne, Coquelin, Sorg; Lorenzoni, Ginter, Gunter, Fernandes; Kerk, Hanke
With Freiburg's struggles so far, I cannot see them getting the win they need tonight. Of course, Liberec are not of the highest calibre but their home advantage twinned with their position in the table should see them at least claim a point.
The anthems and pleasantries are being exchanged now. Which can mean only one thing: we're almost ready for kickoff. Both sets of players look determined in what is a crucial game in this group.
KICKOFF: Here we go then. The hosts in white get the game underway.
Some good early passing here from Freiburg, who are seeing plenty of movement between the lines. Liberec are pressing them well, which is restricting their progress up the field but it's a promising start.
No chances as yet in this one, but the hosts now are starting to come into it just a little more. Sorg gives away a foul on the right after a handball and this could be dangerous. However, it's a poor free kick and Freiburg clear.
There's good commitment in the middle in particular Coquelin and Fernandes. They are holding a good shape at the back, although that's a mistake from Diagne who allowed Delarge to win a corner off his foot.
We're still waiting for a shot as both sides continue to feel each other out. Here come Freiburg on the break as Coquelin won the ball in the middle, but a poor pass from the right sees the move break down.
First sign of threat from the away side there as a free kick comes in for the left but Kovar, going up for the punch, ends up clattering his own man Fleisman. He's off the field receiving treatment but should be ok.
Kerk finds himself with room on the left and he cuts infield in the direction of Hanke and Lorenzoni. The former steps over the ball and the latter did not read it, which allowed the Liberec defence to mop up.
CLOSE! It's still Freiburg with most of the ball, but there has been a real lack of a cutting edge. That said, Gunter crosses deep on the left and it was curling towards the far corner until Kovar turned it over the bar.
GOAL! Liberec 0-1 Freiburg (Ginter)
Immediately following that corner the visitors are ahead. It's very questionable goalkeeping again from Kovar, who gets a weak hand on the cross and it falls to Ginter, who turns and lobs it into the far corner just above two white shirts trying to clear it. Advantage Freiburg.
Although there have not been many chances so far, Freiburg do just about deserve to be winning as they have had the greater intent. They now have something to hold on to.
There really is a lack of creativity in the final third from the hosts. The only times they have tested Baumann have both been deep crosses, with the goalkeeper making a good punch on both occasions. Other than that, he has been comfortable.
Can Liberec create something before the break? That was better from them, with Rybalka crossing from the right but it was just over the head of Sural who was trying to meet it.
Freiburg just starting to get a little nervy at the back as the hosts start to run at them. Krmas gives away a free kick on the right, but Baumann punches clear before it's turned wide by Pavelka.
The pace has just slowed a little in the last few minutes, but the hosts are still well on t op of the possession. If Freiburg can survive to the break it will be a lead well-earned.
BOOKING: First card of the game goes to Kusnir, who completely took out Ginter as he went past him. That yellow means that Kusnir will miss the next game.
Chance for Pavelka as he twisted and turned on the edge of the box, but there was no way past Gunter who tackled him and cleared the danger. It's getting a little bit last-ditch for the visitors now - they need the whistle. Two minutes to be added on.
HALF-TIME: Slovan Liberec 0-1 Freiburg
So it's half time and Freiburg have managed to hang on to the interval. Sadly this game has lacked much in the way of quality, and the second half can surely only improve.
Nevertheless Freiburg will still be pleased with their first-half showing. The goal from Ginter was a good finish, and they have been solid at the back which was important as they cannot lose this game.
So as it stands, these two sides are now level in the group on six points each, which will leave it wide open for the final matchday. In the other game Sevilla currently lead Estoril, which will see them through to the next round.
We are still waiting for the players to emerge for the second half. What Liberec need to do is simply put their visitors under more pressure - it has been all too easy at the back for Freiburg. They got some joy late on with direct running, so I expect more of that to come.
Freiburg kick off for the second half. What will the next 45 minutes bring?
Early offside call against Rabusic as he tried to get in behind, but his run was too early. It's immediately followed up by Delarge also being caught off, but that one was much, much closer! Just about the right call.
SAVE! It has been a good start to this half from the hosts and they have started to beg back Freiburg. Then Baumann is really called into action down low from a stinging by Rabusic. I think he got a touch as the ball came back off the post.
BOOKING: Nasty looking foul that frmo Rabusic on Krmas. He was beaten to the ball and left his foot in studs first, and that could have been a lot worse.
CHANCE! Poor defending allows Coquelin to nip in and, once he got one on one, you would expect him to score but he does nothing more than pass the ball into Kovar's gloves with the outside of his boot.
CHANCE! Huge chance there for Rabusic! The ball comes in from wide and all he has to do is turn it on target but he sweeps his effort wide of the near post. Meanwhile, Delarge is replaced by Frydek.
FREIBURG SUB: Freis is on for Kerk for the visitors.
Still Liberec are seeing the vast majority of the ball, but they're not creating enough of a threat on the away goal. Fernandes gets in really well to win the ball and stop a fast break, before Coquelin is fouled to relieve the pressure.
The Freiburg players are so keen to hang on to this one that Coquelin runs straight into Ginter after making an interception. He's straight up, though, if he was a bit taller that could have been nasty.
BOOKING: Freis almost creates a chance there for Hanke, but he was just crowded out as he attempted the pass with the outside of his boot. As Liberec break Fernandes brings down his man for a yellow - he knows exactly what he's doing there.
LIBEREC SUB: Another change for the hosts here as Kusnir makes way for Pimpara. There's some height for the midfielders to aim at.
GOAL! Liberec 0-2 Freiburg (Francis Coquelin)
Gunter does absolutely brilliantly down the left, weaving between two and then beating a third for pace before reaching the byline. When there, he stabs it to the back post for Coquelin to leap like a salmon to head into the far side netting. That could well be it.
Christian Streich is looking quite pleased on the sidelines, for pretty much the first time in this Europa League campaign.
A corner for the hosts as the big men come up from the back. Not for the first time, however, it's headed away at the near post and the defenders trudge back to their positions.
GOAL! Liberec 1-2 Freiburg (Rybalka)
There's more in this yet! As I suspected, Pimpara has become the target man and this is definitely a route one goal. The ball goes into the box, with Pimpara using height and strength to nod down to Rybalka for a tap-in. Game on.
There is now a lot of noise inside this tiny ground and most of it is pushing the players in white on. They are responding by suddenly pressing right up the field with urgency. Freiburg, on the other hand, are slowing it down whenever possible.
FREIBURG SUB: Ginter is - slowly - making way for the visitors with Albutat coming on for him.
FREIBURG SUB: Final change for the Germans as Hohn is on for Lorenzoli.
It's end-to-end stuff in the second of five minutes added on. Baumann is tested by a low shot from Kovac but does well to turn it round the post.
FULL-TIME: Slovan Liberec 1-2 Freiburg
Freiburg claim a huge win here to throw the race for second wide open! That's all I have time for on this one, but please do check out the Wigan Athletic commentary I am on very soon. From here, it's goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
