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Keisuke Goto has done it again. The 21-year-old Japanese striker emerged from the bench to score twice in SC Freiburg’s dramatic 3-2 DFB-Pokal victory over VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday evening, earning enthusiastic praise from teammate Christian Günter and head coach Julian Schuster.
The youngster needed just 23 minutes to turn Freiburg’s fortunes around. Goto equalized with a superbly timed header from Vincenzo Grifo’s 76th-minute corner before collecting a long ball from Philipp Lienhart and producing a magnificent first touch and delicate finish to complete Freiburg’s stoppage-time comeback.
There was something extraordinary about the efficiency of Goto’s performance. The striker registered just eight touches, attempted four passes, and took three shots. Two of those efforts found the back of the net, with the Japanese international scoring twice from an expected goals total of just 0.53.
Freiburg’s latest comeback hero has become increasingly familiar with these dramatic late interventions. As Get German Football News reported following Freiburg’s 2-1 Bundesliga victory over Schalke 04 on October 11, Goto also scored the winner in that match after coming off the bench.
The emerging partnership between Goto and Grifo has proved particularly fruitful. The Italian veteran supplied the decisive cross against Schalke and once again assisted Goto’s equalizer against Wolfsburg.
Christian Günter: Goto an “ice-veined finisher”
Speaking in the mixed zone after Wednesday’s victory, Freiburg captain Christian Günter was visibly exhausted but delighted with the outcome.
“It was off to the races,” a sweat-drenched Günter said when asked to comment on the game in general. “No [in all seriousness], it was fun. In general, it was a good performance from us. Of course, we conceded the [two] goals too easily, but it’s about sticking together as a team in such moments. Until the very end, I believe we had lots of chances, didn’t allow much through defensively in the second half, and we have a Japanese super-sub that does a magnificent job,”
Günter was especially impressed by Goto’s ability to make an immediate impact despite spending most of the match watching from the sidelines. The veteran also singled out the composure required to execute the winning goal.
“One really has to praise him,” Günter continued. “It’s not always easy to come in and be fully present. It’s really cool to watch how he moves and operates inside the 18. He’s an ice-veined finisher. What he did on that second [goal] absolutely wasn’t easy. One really has to praise him, as that’s not easy at all.”
The praise carries particular weight given Günter’s long association with Freiburg. Having witnessed the remarkable effectiveness of former club striker Nils Petersen as a substitute, the veteran captain knows how valuable a reliable option from the bench can be.
Goto’s role has already extended beyond Wednesday’s rescue act. The youngster scored twice against Motherwell during Freiburg’s Conference League qualifying campaign and has continued to demonstrate the attacking qualities that GGFN identified in our comprehensive preseason tactical analysis.
Schuster explains Goto’s reaction to missing two matches
Goto’s latest intervention came at an interesting moment in his early Freiburg career. After scoring the winner against Schalke, the youngster subsequently earned an opportunity to start against Bayer Leverkusen in the league. Goto, working behind Igor Matanovic as a second striker in a 4-4-2, didn’t make much of an impact and lasted only 64 minutes.
He then went unused in Freiburg’s next two fixtures.
Asked about the situation after Wednesday’s post-match press conference by BILD reporter Linus Uhrig, Schuster acknowledged that the circumstances had not been entirely straightforward for his young striker.
“It wasn’t particularly easy for him after the Schalke match,” Schuster explained. “He then had the opportunity to start a really big game for us. In the last two matches, we had to make early substitutions, including in Monaco. Those are situations we have to deal with, and the opportunities to bring him on simply weren’t there.”
The Freiburg trainer nevertheless emphasized that the coaching staff had encouraged Goto to maintain his positive approach.
“He didn’t play twice, and we told him not to start questioning everything, but instead to continue doing the positive things,” Schuster said.
The response could scarcely have been more convincing. After two matches without an appearance, Goto returned to action by scoring twice and sending Freiburg into the next round of the DFB-Pokal.
Schuster’s observations were consistent with his earlier praise of Goto’s work ethic and willingness to learn. Following the Schalke victory, the coach described a young player eager to improve and increasingly comfortable working within Freiburg’s tactical framework.
Goto’s personality brings Freiburg’s supporters to their feet
Goto’s unmistakable red hair has become another expression of his growing attachment to Freiburg. As the Japanese striker explained in an interview for the club’s Heimspiel magazine, he dyed his hair after the international break both to reflect Freiburg’s traditional club color and to symbolize “the fire in his heart.”
That explanation offered an intriguing backdrop to Wednesday’s post-match press conference. Uhrig asked Schuster about Goto’s ability to engage supporters through his exuberant celebrations and energetic personality, wondering whether the coach considered him something of an entertainer.
Schuster initially hesitated over the description, explaining that he associated the word with a slightly negative connotation. For the Freiburg coach, Goto’s behavior reflected genuine emotion rather than any desire to put on a show.
“For me, it’s less about entertainment and much more about a certain emotion that he carries within himself,” Schuster replied. “Anyone who sees him before a match knows he’s completely focused.”
Uhrig clarified that his observation was intended as a compliment. Kicker reporter Carsten Schröter-Lorenz then lightened the exchange by joking that “we are all in the entertainment business.”
Schuster eventually warmed to the characterization.
“It’s all the more pleasing that I perceive him as disciplined, while you describe him as emotional or entertaining,” Schuster noted. “In that case, he’s actually ideal.”
The coach also acknowledged the energy Goto brings to the Europa-Park Stadion. His presence has become something of a catalyst for the supporters, particularly when Freiburg are chasing a result.
Schuster suggested that the youngster could eventually develop into the sort of substitute whose introduction is actively demanded by the crowd. Freiburg have, of course, enjoyed the services of an especially famous example in the past.
A further moment of levity arrived during a discussion among reporters after the press conference, when Schröter-Lorenz referenced the relative simplicity of chanting Goto’s name compared with that of club legend Nils Petersen. The short, rhythmic “Go-to! Go-to!” requires considerably less effort than the longer name of Freiburg’s former supersub.
The comparison was a humorous observation about the supporters’ chants rather than an attempt to equate the two players’ accomplishments. Nevertheless, Goto has already begun carving out a similar reputation for making his minutes on the pitch count.
Schuster impressed by Goto’s jumping ability and delicate winner
The conversation eventually turned to Goto’s athleticism. Schuster was particularly impressed by the striker’s header from Grifo’s corner and the extraordinary elevation he achieved to reach the ball.
Schröter-Lorenz asked about Freiburg’s jumping statistics, specifically the countermovement jump and squat jump tests. When Cyriaque Irié, known around the club as “Cycy,” was suggested as a possible leader, Schuster acknowledged that the winger ranked highly but could not immediately recall the player with the best results.
“Cycy is also right up there, but there was someone else,” Schuster remarked, promising to supply the answer next time.
The coach’s uncertainty over the precise rankings did nothing to diminish his admiration for Goto’s athletic qualities. Beyond his heading ability, Schuster highlighted the youngster’s pressing and the energy he provides to teammates and supporters alike.
Perhaps even more impressive, however, was the composure demonstrated on the winning goal. Goto had to time his run perfectly, control Lienhart’s long pass at speed, recognize the goalkeeper’s position, and execute an exquisitely weighted finish.
“One thing is his heading ability, another is the way he presses,” Schuster explained. “But also having the composure in that moment, at that speed, to maintain an overview, recognize the situation, and then lift the ball over him with such a delicate touch.”
It was precisely this combination of movement, athleticism, and finishing technique that had so impressed Günter.
Schuster’s side now turn their attention to Saturday’s Bundesliga trip to Augsburg, having finally arrested a three-match losing streak. Freiburg’s next opponents will certainly have taken note of the young Japanese striker waiting for another opportunity to make his presence felt.
Whether Goto starts or once again emerges from the bench remains to be seen. What is increasingly difficult to dispute is that Freiburg have acquired a highly effective attacking weapon capable of transforming a match in a split-second.
