Berlin: Kai Havertz became the first player in Bundesliga history to score 35 goals before turning 21 to help Bayer Leverkusen beat Freiburg 1-0 following the 29th round of matches. However, Leverkusen will be waiting to hear news of the 20-year-old’s fitness after he was injured.
Looking to respond after their 12-game unbeaten run was snatched from them in a 1-4 defeat at home to Wolfsburg in midweek, it was Leverkusen who began the first half brightest, as per the official Bundesliga website.
The home side had as much as 70 per cent of the ball in the opening 20 minutes but could not break through a compact Freiburg side set up by Streich to defend first, attack second.
Leverkusen’s attempts at stretching the game wide were countered by Freiburg’s well-structured shape, keeping the game in the middle of the pitch, much to Peter Bosz’s frustration. Chances began to flow towards the end of the first period as Leon Bailey flirted with the first shot on target of the game for either side before Lucas Höler had the perfect opportunity to open the scoring at the other end.
One-on-one with Lukas Hradecky, the Freiburg forward went for the far bottom corner but curled his strike wide, leaving the game goalless at the break. Leverkusen continued to dominate the ball into the second half and made the breakthrough just after the hour-mark with their first shot on target.
Havertz flicked the ball to Bailey before continuing his run into the box where he was found by the Jamaican, and slotted the ball under Alexander Schwolow while holding off the challenge of Dominique Heintz.
It was almost a first Leverkusen goal for Florian Wirtz minutes later, but the 17-year-old’s strike across goal drifted just wide. (IANS)
