Motherwell were drawn against SC Freiburg in the UEFA Conference League playoff round, last year's Europa League finalists. The gulf in stature and finances was apparent, but Alfred Johansson wanted his side to stay true to its identity and put on a strong performance. Fir Park's roof came off inside two minutes when Regan Charles-Cook gave Motherwell the lead. World Cup winner Matthias Ginter scored from a free kick to level the game, but the Steelmen continued to pass the ball and try to create chances. Well in the tie at 1-1 as the game approached the hour mark, everything changed when Martin Moormann was shown a red card after conceding a penalty, with Ginter scoring from the spot for his brace. With 30 minutes remaining and a man down, many would have feared the worst against such a top-quality opposition. But Motherwell battled and worked relentlessly. With the last kick of the game, however, Freiburg scored from a corner, their third set-piece goal of the game. A cruel end to a monumental effort from the Motherwell players, who now rest and recover before travelling to Germany next week.
