Last minute defeat for FCA against Hannover

FC Augsburg were defeated 2-1 at home to Hannover 96. Michael Gregoritsch fired FCA into the lead in the 33rd minute but Niclas Füllkrug scored a brace in the final 15 minutes to take all three points for the visitors. FCA head coach, Manuel Baum, made three changes to the side that faced Hoffenheim. Rani Khedira, Jonathan Schmid and Michael Gregoritsch started in place of Martin Hintergger, Ja-Cheol Koo and Marcel Heller. The hosts started the game very positively. Caiuby waltzed around the Hannover defence and shot towards goal but his strike went narrowly wide. Soon after, Alfred Finnbogason hit the side netting. Augsburg maintained the pressure throughout the opening half an hour as Hannover struggled to get out of their own half. Eventually, Gregoritsch ensured Augsburg got their reward for their dominance. The ball deflected off Julian Korb and looped into the Hannover goal. Gregoritsch’s third goal of the campaign ensured they went into the break 1-0 up.

Hannover up their game for the second half

To begin with, the second half was much like the first as Caiuby teed Schmid who was unable to find the back of the net. The Brazilian himself then had a couple of chances to score with his first effort being blocked by Salif Sané and the second shot saved by Tschauner. The visitors began to come into the game more and more as the second half wore on with Hitz forced to make a save. Suddenly, from nowhere, the team from Niedersachsen equalised. Korb’s cross found the recently substituted Niclas Füllkrug who scored to make it 1-1 in the 77th minute. The game concluded with a flurry of chances for both sides. At one end, Hitz made a superb save to deny Hannover taking the lead whereas, at the other end of the pitch, Ja-Cheol Koo had the chance to reinstate Augsburg’s lead from close range. However, it wasn’t FCA’s day. In the dying seconds of the game, Füllkrug scored to seize the three points for the visitors. Augsburg went close with the final kick of the game but did not take the point that they at very least deserved.