Matanović and Suzuki shine as Freiburg power into Europa League semis
Freiburg's Yuito Suzuki celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the UEFA Europa League quarter final second leg soccer match between Celta Vigo and SC Freiburg at Estadio de Balaidos. Miguel Lemos/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa A stunning volley from Igor Matanović and Yuito Suzuki's double marked Freiburg's surge into the Europa League semi-finals after the Germans defeated Celta Vigo 3-1 away and 6-1 on aggregate on Thursday. The Black Forest outfit were 3-0 up from last week's home leg but still went on the offensive in the quarter-final second leg in north-west Spain.
They easily sealed a semi-final meeting with another Spanish team Real Betis or Portugal's Braga. Celta fans initially created a febrile atmosphere inside the three-sided Estadio Balaidos but around 1,200 Freiburg supporters also made themselves heard in the early kick-off. The away section had even more to cheer when Croatia striker Matanović superbly latched on to Jordy Makengo's knock-down from 20 metres on 35 minutes.
A rogue offside flag delayed the celebrations. Japan's Suzuki soon made it 2-0 in the Galician sunshine and added another after the interval. Williot Swedberg's goal in stoppage time for Celta meant little.
The German side, who went with the same team from the first leg, have never been this far before in European competition and fans will now be dreaming of overall glory in Istanbul on May 20. They have never won a major trophy. Celta were contesting their fifth UEFA Cup/Europa League quarter-final but have only ever made one last-four appearance.
Winning the Europa League offers a spot in the Champions League, a feat Freiburg - eighth domestically - have never managed. Their success over Celta also helps in Germany's bid to snatch a fifth Champions League berth next season from Spain. Celta are sixth in LaLiga.