FCA beaten in Magdeburg in first round of DFB Pokal

FC Augsburg missed the chance to progress to the second round of the DFB Pokal after a 2-0 defeat to FC Magdeburg on Sunday night. Late goals from Christian Beck and Tobias Schwede meant the lower ranked side knocked Manuel Baum’s side out for the second time in four years. Marwin Hitz was called into action early to deny Michel Niemeyer as the visitors took a while to settle. New signing Michael Gregoritsch created the first chance for FCA but Alfred Finnbogason was judged to be offside. Augsburg remained strong at the back despite allowing the hosts several good openings to take the lead as the half went on, but it was going forward that was the problem as Baum’s men failed to create any real threat up top. The reaction in the second half was better and Augsburg started to look dangerous in front of goal, with Finnbogason the main threat, forcing a strong save from the Magdeburg goalkeeper. Jonathan Schmid saw the game’s best chance slip away, when his chip clipped the top of the bar with the goalkeeper beaten in no-man’s land. New signing Sergio Córdova had a strong chance for a penalty moments later, but the referee deemed that the debutant’s shot had not hit the hand of the defender and the claim was waved away. As the closing stages approached, it was FCA making headway looking to grab the winner, but it was the home side who struck a killer blow with three minutes left on the clock. After a free kick from the right wasn’t cleared, it was left for Christian Beck to smash home from three yards and there was more misery for FCA when Magdeburg cleared a last minute corner, before breaing up the pitch and adding a second – Tobias Schwede firing into an empty net with Hitz up field.