FCA extend unbeaten streak after 2-2 draw against Leverkusen

FC Augsburg only narrowly missed out on their third straight win in the Bundesliga, after a 2-2 draw at home against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Michael Gregoritsch scored a brace to overturn a 1-0 deficit, before the Werkself netted a late equaliser.

Head coach Manuel Baum named an unchanged starting line-up and bench following last weekend’s 4-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt (4-1). 

FCA started brightly and didn’t need long to record their first chance of the afternoon. Robin Fellhauer crossed the ball into the box where Hennes Behrens managed to meet it, before his shot was blocked by a Werkself defender. The visitors then went up the pitch the other way immediately after, recording their first chance on goal (4’).

Both sides were battling hard for control over proceedings, leading to several duels in midfield. Leverkusen took the lead in the 18th minute, after Christian Kofane got on the end of a long ball. The striker was able to send Chrislain Matsima the wrong way, before slotting the ball past Finn Dahmen to open the scoring. 

FCA reacted well to the setback and continued to look for opportunities to attack. The hosts found it difficult to break into their opponent’s half, however. As the half-time whistle went, FCA headed into the dressing room trailing 1-0.

Gregortisch bags a brace

Augsburg came out of the dressing room with fresh energy, with Arijon Ibrahimović recording their first chance of the second half after just 30 seconds. The attacker was able to get off a shot from 20 metres out, but only narrowly missed hitting the target. FCA saw their efforts rewarded in the 50th minute, as Behrens picked out Gregoritsch with a defense-splitting pass. The striker got to the ball before B04 goalkeeper Mark Flekken, poking it past him and into the back of the net to level the score. The goal put the Austrian level with Alfred Finnbogason as FCA’s all-time record goalscorers in the Bundesliga. 

Gregoritsch would go on to add to his tally shortly after. He managed to lose his marker and head in following a corner, giving Augsburg the lead for the first time (55’). His 38th Bundesliga goal for the club saw him move past Finnbogason as the club’s new record goalscorer in the division. Just like last weekend in Frankfurt, FCA managed to overturn a deficit and take the lead. 

Leverkusen sought to get back into the game in the moments that followed, going close following a corner. Finn Dahmen made two strong saves in quick succession, before Ibrahim Maza was able to get off a shot. His effort took a deflection before hitting the back of the net, as Leverkusen thought they had equalised. The goal was then chalked off after the VAR spotted a foul in the build-up, with referee Daniel Siebert heading to the monitor to review the situation.  

A late equaliser for the visitors

FCA sought to defend their narrow advantage in the closing stages of the match, while also waiting for further opportunities to counter. Just as it seemed as though the hosts would be able to keep all three points at the WWK-Arena, the visitors were able to draw level in the 89th minute. Patrik Schick finished a cross into the box to secure his side a point late on. The result means that FCA are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season. 

Next weekend, FCA will travel to face SV Werder Bremen on Saturday, 19th September (15:30 CEST), their final game before the international break.

Unsere FCA-APP

Jetzt herunterladen!