Eye-catchers and excitement aplenty at the FCA season opener against Werder Bremen
The opening match of the 14th Bundesliga season between FC Augsburg and SV Werder Bremen ended in a 2:2 draw. While Augsburg’s equaliser and lead goals in the first half kept the FCA fans in the sold-out WWK Arena happy, controversial referee decisions spoiled their mood in the second half.
By Udo Legner
FCA coach Thorup fielded the same starting eleven that defeated regional league team Viktoria Berlin 4-1 in the DFB Cup last weekend. With Nediljko Labrovic in goal, Dimitrios Giannoulis and Keven Schlotterbeck in defence and Samuel Essende in attack, four new signings again played.
In glorious summer weather, the match in the completely sold-out WWK Arena picked up speed immediately. FCA had the first chance to score: Arne Engels (9th) was stopped from close range by Werder keeper Michael Zetterer. Just a few moments later, the guests took the lead out of nowhere through Felix Augu (12th), with neither Giannoulis nor FCA keeper Labrovic making a good impression. Just a few minutes later (16th), FCA equalized with a dream goal – Elvis Rehxbecaj curled the ball into the right corner from almost 30 meters. After Augsburg’s equalizer, the game lost momentum. Bremen did have more possession, but apart from a long-range shot by Stage (25th) they were not a threat to the goal. The FCA’s offensive department, on the other hand, was extremely efficient: a cross from Breithaupt to the far post was finished off with a spectacular diving header by Bundesliga debutant Essende to give FCA a 2-1 lead (35′). Apart from two Werder attacks down the right wing (37′ and 42′), which, however, did not result in anything, there were no notable goal-scoring opportunities until half-time.
Conclusion at halftime: Thanks to greater efficiency in front of the opponent’s goal, FCA deserved a half-time lead, even though Werder Bremen had more possession (60 percent).
At the beginning of the second half, the visiting team dominated, with Ducksch having a double chance (51st and 53rd) and equalising with a header from substitute Njinmah following a cross from Weiser (58th).
Coach Thorup reacted to the equalizer by substituting Dorsch and Jensen (for Breithaupt and Maier), who gave Augsburg’s game new momentum. A few minutes later, there was brief celebration at FCA: Essende scored their second goal (69th minute), but it was annulled for handball after a VAR check. The frustration on the Augsburg side was even greater in the 77th minute: after an attack down the left wing and a cross to the near post, the ball bounced off Werder’s Jung’s hand.
Is handball punishable or not?
When the VAR intervenes, the players and the FCA fans are expecting a penalty, but referee Stegemann denies it. The score remained 2:2 until the final whistle. The fact that the FCA fans cheered their team for a long time after the final whistle despite the botched opening victory gives us confidence for the rest of the season, despite everything.
Photo: Udo Legner
FCA coach Thorup explained his team’s missed opening victory against Werder Bremen at the start of the season in the press conference: “Unfortunately, we didn’t win in the end because of a wrong decision by the referee.”
The reply from referee Sascha Stegemann is likely to continue to provide food for discussion:
On the next match day, FCA will play away at 1. FC Heidenheim (Sunday, 3:30 p.m.).
FC Augsburg line-up:
Nedilijko Labrovic – Mads Pedersen, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, Keven Schlotterbeck, Dimitrios Giannoulis (80. Marius Wolf) – Tim Breithaupt (59. Niklas Dorsch), Elvis Rexhbecaj, Arne Maier (59. Fredrik Jensen), Arne Engels (80. Steve Mounié) – Samuel Essende, Phillip Tietz (66. Maximilian Bauer)
Article from 26.08.2024 | Author: bst
Heading: FCA, Sports
