Super-sub Nils Petersen was on target again as Freiburg revived their Europa League hopes with a 1-0 victory over 10-man Champions League contenders Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Friday.
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It was Freiburg's 10th win in their last 12 unreaten home games against Gladbach who last won at their southern German rivals in 2002.
Gladbach dominated possession but Petersen came on the 57th and just over a minute later nodded home Vincenzo Grifo's free-kick from the right wing for a Bundesliga record-extending 24th goal as a substitute.
The visitors, who missed first-half chances from Florian Neuhaus, had Alassane Plea sent off for a second bookable offence nine minutes after the goal, which will also make him miss next weekend's match against runaway leaders Bayern Munich.
Sports director Max Eberl was also red-carded and sent into the empty stands, seeminly for furiously contesting Plea's dismissal.
Gladbach remain fifth just outside the Champions League spots and their deficit on the top four could grow to three points if Bayer Leverkusen beat Bayern and RB Leipzig don't lose at bottom club Paderborn on Saturday.
"We didn't look good on a set piece. This shouldn't happen. We did well in the first half but should have scored," Gladbach's Patrick Herrmann said.
"Points would have been good but we will keep on fighting."
Freiburg won for the first time in their fifth game after the restart and in eighth are one point behind sixth-placed Wolfsburg in the last Europa League spot.
"You need such moments as a sub. It was very important to get points. We fought against defeat at first and then scored ourselves. Why not look further up in the standings?" Petersen said.
Australian Associated Press
