Victory at last on matchday one

FC Augsburg have broken their miserable streak on matchday one by recording their first win in eight years on the first day of the season. FCA overcame newly promoted Fortuna Düsseldorf 2-1. The hosts took the lead in the 39th minute through Benito Raman, but Martin Hinteregger (57’) and Andé Hahn (76’) turned the game on its head. Manuel Baum made two changes to the XI that started the Pokal game in Steinbach last weekend. Fabian Giefer was preferred to Andreas Luthe in goal after the two were vying for FCA’s number one jersey. Caiuby replaced Dong-Won Ji in attack. Augsburg made a fiery start at the Merkur Spielarena in Düsseldorf. André Hahn set up Marco Richter, whose shot was parried out for a corner by Fortuna keeper Michael Rensing (2’). Minutes later, Richter fired the ball into the side-netting (5’). Augsburg were dominant in the opening phases and played dynamic football, whilst the hosts sat deep and waited for counter opportunities. In the 18th minute, Martin Hinteregger launched a shot from distance, yet Rensing was there again. André Hahn headed the subsequent corner towards the Fortuna goal, but midfielder André Hoffmann cleared off his line and kept the affair at 0-0 (29’). At the other end of the pitch, Augsburg looked threatened for the first time. Alfredo Morales whipped a cross into the centre of the box, where Kevin Stöger stood unmarked. The Austrian had a shot from close-range, which crept wide of the right post (30’). Düsseldorf looked a different team as Benito Raman then forced Fabian Giefer into a fine save (34’). Six minutes before half time, Fortuna knocked in a cross after capitalizing on an Augsburg defensive error. Jonathan Schmid couldn’t clear the danger and Benito Raman snapped up the chance at the far post, firing the hosts into an unexpected lead (39’). Philipp Max then tried to find an equaliser with a shot from range. After a Michael Gregoritsch deflection, the ball flew wide of the left post (45’). FC Augsburg trailed 1-0 at the break Fortuna started the second half brightly with a good chance on the counter.  Jean Zimmer managed to find some space on the right flank and almost got to the touch line before his shot smashed into the side netting of the Augsburg goal (47’). In the 57th minute, Martin Hinteregger beat his opponent to the ball after a Jonathon Schmid cross from the right flank to head home and equalise for Augsburg. Both teams wanted to walk away from their opening match of the season with three points and an intensive and exciting game developed after Augsburg’s equaliser. In the 73rd minute, Marco Richter tested Düsseldorf keeping Rensing with a low shot. Then, the young forward produced a lovely cross which Hahn headed home from 10 yards out to give FCA the lead (76’). Fortuna threw everything at finding an equaliser in the closing stages, but Augsburg didn’t let anything past their defence, with Giefer standing firm between the sticks (86’). Phillip Max nearly smashed the ball straight into his own goal in the 87th minute, but Fortuna substitute Kevin Karaman could only head over the Augsburg crossbar in the dying minutes.