FREIBURG, Germany - Japan attacker Yuito Suzuki scored his fifth goal of the season as Freiburg beat Union Berlin 2-0 at home to stay near the top of the German Bundesliga on Sunday.
Suzuki's pass led to Freiburg's 55th-minute opener as Union Berlin midfielder Rani Khedira netted an own goal at Europa-Park Stadion before the lively 25-year-old doubled the hosts' lead in the 67th minute.
Derry Scherhant won the ball inside his own half and drove forward before playing the ball to Suzuki, who calmly chipped the ball past opposing keeper Frederik Roennow.
Japan forward Keisuke Goto came on in the 68th minute and won a penalty, but Vincenzo Grifo saw his shot saved with six minutes to go.
"The ball got away from me a bit as I controlled it, but I'm happy (to score)," said Suzuki, who began the season with a hat-trick in the opening game before scoring his last goal in mid-September.
Leading his side's attack with incisive dribbles and passes, Suzuki was named the man of the match in his final game before joining up with the Japan national team for friendlies with Brazil and Paraguay in Singapore.
"I was looking to go back to the basics, the battling and running part of the game," said Suzuki after ending his goal drought. "I'm gradually getting back that positive feeling."
Freiburg sit third in the table on 19 points, two points behind leaders Bayern Munich and second-placed Borussia Dortmund.
