Fri 24 Jul - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 4mins
Derby County’s Austria trip concluded with a 3-1 defeat to SC Freiburg at Velly Arena on Friday afternoon.
Carlton Morris had levelled for the Rams to cancel out Cyriaque Irié’s opener, before late goals from Vincenzo Grifo and Leon Catak gave the Bundesliga side the win.
The scoreline perhaps didn’t reflect the flow of the contest, a bout which was largely equal across its 120 minutes, with Derby enjoying the better opportunities in the first hour.
John Eustace named an unchanged XI from the team that started last week’s 2-0 victory at Alfreton Town, again giving an opportunity to trialist Ryan Hedges, who had continued to train with the group out in Austria.
Derby had the first chance of note, created on the counter. Bobby Clark drove on the breakaway to the edge of the Freiburg box, subsequently finds Oscar Fraulo but the Dane’s strike was straight at Mio Backhaus.
Last season’s UEFA Europa League finalists found the net from their first attack. Individual brilliance from Irié saw him weave between two Derby defenders to curl into the far corner of Josh Vickers’ goal.
But the Rams restored parity within four minutes. Fraulo’s relentless pressing – a theme of Derby’s play throughout – saw him pinch the ball back from Yannik Engelhardt, in tandem with Morris, before the ball broke for the latter to finishes clinically into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Captain Lewis Travis prevented the German side from re-taking the lead, sliding in on the goal line to avert Mateo Zelic’s goal-bound effort.
Fresh from the first hydration break on the half-hour mark, Derby grew stronger. Again, the tenacious Fraulo was present to intercept the ball in midfield, playing into Morris, who found Joe Ward, with the winger’s first time pull back placed inches wide of the far post by Hedges.
A minute later, the high press almost reaped rewards again. This time it was Hedges who stole possession back, with the loose ball landing at Fraulo’s feet.
He slid the ball into Hedges’ path, who in turn threaded Ward in again - the pull-back met Clark’s run before the chance was cleared off the line in the nick of time by Max Rosenfelder.
A new XI emerged for the second half, with Charlie Taylor the standout introduction – the 32-year-old making his first appearance in black and white since signing earlier this month.
It was a largely youthful Rams XI, featuring eight current or former Academy representatives. They more than held their own, however, as Derby continued to look to be on the front foot.
A lack of goal-mouth action ensued for the following half hour’s play, as both sides struggled to find the telling ball in the final third.
With just over ten minutes to play, Rio Canoville brought down Maximillian Eggestein on edge of area. The referee pointed the spot, giving Griefo the chance to put Freiburg ahead from 12 yards.
The Italian stepped up from a short run-up to send Sam Kane – who had been replaced Richard O’Donnell five minutes earlier - the wrong way and make it 2-1.
Canoville almost atoned instantly but his header from a Cruz Allen corner was well saved at the far post by Jannik Huth – Freiburg’s third goalkeeper of the afternoon. Adisa Osayande headed over from the resulting corner as Derby threatened a second leveller.
The German side added a third in the dying embers. Kane rushed off his line and swept up the danger well, but when Liam Thompson was subsequently caught in possession, Catak managed to loft the ball over the 20-year-old as he retreated to his goal.
Still, the Rams can take heart from their endeavours as they sign-off from a successful week’s work in Austria.
Derby County first half XI: Vickers (GK), Forsyth, Clarke, Clark, Morris, Johnston, Ward, Travis (C), Sanderson, Fraulo, Hedges (Harvey, 62’).
Derby County second half XI: O’Donnell (GK) (Kane, 110), Thompson (C), Taylor (T Gill, 90’), Nyambe, Eames, Brown, Allen, Smith, Canoville, Osayande, Harvey (Lukic, 100’).
John Eustace’s side are back in action on Tuesday in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Valencia, before meeting Mansfield Town (Friday 31st July) and Burton Albion (Saturday 1st August) next weekend.
Tickets for both away trips are available to buy HERE.
