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Freiburg keeper Noah Atubolu made a stunning save but also committed a crucial error in the Europa League semi-final loss to Braga, ending the match 2-1. Atubolu expressed mixed feelings about taking full responsibility for the blunder after the game.
Freiburg keeper Noah Atubolu speaks on Europa League howler in opening leg semi-final loss against Braga
SC Freiburg keeper Noah Atubolu experienced quite the rollercoaster ride during Thursday eveningās Europa League loss away at Sporting BragaĀ The 23-year-old executed a magnificent save to keep the scoreline level in first-half injury time. Unfortunately, deep into second half injury time, a crucial blunder led to the Portuguese outfit taking the first leg of the semi-final tie 2-1.
Atubolu ā who actually set a new Bundesliga record for consecutive number of penalties saved earlier this season ā solidified his reputation as a bonafide āpenalty killerā with a spot at 45+2. Former Eintracht Frankfurt, FC St. Pauli, and Schalke 04 striker Rodrigo Zalazar struck a powerful effort aimed perfectly at the left-hand-corner. Somehow, Atubolu made a superb stop.
This regrettably was followed up by a bad blunder at 90+2. Atubolu deflected an otherwise harmless shot directly into the path of Braga substitute Mario Dorgeles. The mistake left Atubolu quite grumpy when speaking after full time. The Freiburg native wasnāt quite sure if he felt like taking full responsibility for it yet when speaking to .
Noah Atubolu deflected a harmless shot into the path of Braga's Mario Dorgeles, leading to a late goal that secured Braga's 2-1 victory.
Before the blunder, Atubolu made a remarkable save during first-half injury time, maintaining a level scoreline against Braga.
Noah Atubolu set a new Bundesliga record for the consecutive number of penalties saved earlier this season.
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Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster, meanwhile, acknowledged the two poor defensive lapses that led to his team conceding on the evening in his own RTL post-match interview. Taking a page from his Bundesliga coaching colleague Vincent Kompanyās playbook, Schuster made sure to emphasize that much remained possible in front of the hometown fans at the Europa Park Stadion next week.
āTo concede such an unnecessary goal is just incomprehensible,ā Atubolu grumbled into the RTL microphone. āBut. nothing is over yet. Weāre making it hard on ourselves because we ran out of steam at the end. It was far too easy for them to play through.
āOne problem is that I didnāt see the ball [clearly],ā Atubolu continued. āThe problem was that I didnāt see the ball. I think it was Philipp Lienhart who was standing almost in front of me or next to me. [All I could do] was get my hands up and brush it away.ā
āWe didnāt defend well in those few moments, and thatās why we were punished,ā Schuster said. āWe can do better. We have to do better. That canāt happen to us. At home, with our fans, everything is still possible.ā