FCA run out as 3-1 winners against Gladbach

FC Augsburg put in a quality performance in their final home game of the Bundesliga season on matchday 33, defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1 in front of a sold-out crowd.

FCA head coach Manuel Baum made three changes to the side that won 3-1 in Bremen last weekend. Marius Wolf, Kristijan Jakić and Mert Kömür all returned to the starting XI, with Robin Fellhauer starting on the bench following a carefully managed week of training. Arthur Chaves was absent due to a slight knee issue.

The stage was well and truly set for the final home game of the season. 30,660 spectators, the motto “All in white” and a tifo display in the Ulrich-Biesinger end ensured that there was a great atmosphere in the stands ahead of kick-off. Before the match got underway, Elvis Rexhbecaj, Daniel Klein, goalkeeper coach Marco Langer and long-time managing director for sport Stefan Reuter were given an official send-off from the club with a huge round of applause.

Carried by the support from the stands, FCA started with energy and drive. Right off the bat, Augsburg looked to threaten a Gladbach side who secured their safety with a draw against Dortmund in their last game. There was even an early shout for a penalty, as Anton Kade got to the ball first before Kevin Diks appeared to foul him. Referee Tobias Reichel let play continue, though (3’).

Substitute Fellhauer makes instant impact

Shortly after that, FCA were forced to make a change. Dimitris Giannoulis was unable to continue due to thigh complaints, and Robin Fellhauer entered the fray in the 14th minute in his stead. The change paid off almost instantly: After being played through by Fabian Rieder, Fellhauer got a shot off that was initially saved by Gladbach keeper Moritz Nicholas, but Michael Gregoritsch was in the right place at the right time to stab the rebound into the back of the net, making it 1-0 to Augsburg (24’).

Baum’s XI remained the better side for the remainder of the first half. Gregoritsch looked to have bagged another before the strike was chalked off for offside (28’). Shortly before the interval, FCA scored a richly deserved second goal. Kömür found some space down the left flank and squared the ball to Fellhauer, who swept it past Nicolas and into the back of the net (43’). Augsburg went into the break with a deserved two-goal advantage and the wind in their sails.

Gregoritsch gets his second

FCA also looked solid after the restart and continued to dominate the game. Cédric A header from Cédric Zesiger didn’t pose any problems for Nicolas, though (55’), but Augsburg hardly gave Gladbach a sniff in the early stages of the second half. Only a singular shot from Joe Scally briefly threatened FCA’s goal (56’). In the 68th minute, Felhauer almost got his second goal of the afternoon. Gregoritsch flicked the ball on from a corner and the substitute headed home. However, the goal was disallowed, as Fellhauer was standing in an offside position.

Four minutes later, FCA scored the decisive goal. Kömür cut inside and got a shot off which took a deflection that caught Nicolas off guard. The keeper just about got his fingertips to it but ended up pushing it into the path of Gregoritsch who smashed the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-0 (72’). The goal effectively sealed victory for FCA, even though the visitors managed to get a goal back in added time through Giovanni Reyna (90+2’).

Following the win, Augsburg sit ninth in the table, level on 43 points with eighth-placed Frankfurt. Next weekend, they will face off against Union Berlin in their final match of the season (Saturday, 16th May, 15:30 CEST).

Unsere FCA-APP

Jetzt herunterladen!