11th matchday
Horror over the firecracker throw overshadowed the game in Augsburg
Augsburg’s Ermedin Demirovic scored the final score with a shot from a tight angle. photo
© Harry Langer/dpa
A firecracker causes great terror in the Augsburg stadium. Luckily there are no serious injuries. The referee reacts calmly and the game can be ended.
The game was only discussed in passing. The focus of the review of the 1-1 draw in the Bundesliga between FC Augsburg, who turned up the heat after the break, and the away specialists TSG Hoffenheim was one Firecrackers thrown from the guest fan block.
According to the police, eleven injured people are known so far – and two suspects. “Both men are suspected of being involved in the crime,” the police said. Both were arrested. “It’s unbelievable nonsense,” commented TSG sports director Alexander Rosen: “This has no place in a football stadium.”
FCA sports director: “You have to punish that severely”
Referee Felix Brych interrupted the game for around five minutes because of the incident in the 57th minute. “I have never heard such a loud bang in a football stadium,” said the referee, who is also very experienced internationally. After the final whistle, the 48-year-old was highly praised from all sides for his calm behavior.
“I made it clear that if something like that happens again, we have to leave the field,” Brych said of the minutes after the incident. He referred to the DFB’s so-called three-stage plan, which calls for the game to be canceled as the final reaction. As a first step, Brych gathered the players in the center circle to talk. The firecracker was thrown from the fan block and exploded loudly near the corner flag. “This has to be punished severely,” said FCA sporting director Marinko Jurendić, referring to the perpetrator.
Demirovic causes cheers before the cannon is thrown
At least the game was able to be played to a regular conclusion in front of 28,260 spectators. A fantastic solo move by Ermedin Demirovic before the firecrackers was thrown ensured that Augsburg, under new coach Jess Thorup, remained unbeaten against TSG, who had won their first five away games of the season.
The FCA captain’s energetic performance for his sixth goal of the season meant he first put three opponents in a tight space to make it to the final score and then flicked the ball from an acute angle from the edge of the penalty area into the far corner (53rd minute).
Augsburg throws everything forward at the end of the game
“Two wins, two draws, eight points – I’m happy as a new coach,” said Thorup. Hoffenheim had taken the lead through Wout Weghorst’s goal in the 23rd minute. Hoffenheim coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was disappointed because his team had dominated before the break.
Augsburg was significantly closer to victory in the second half. Attacker Demirovic failed after a pass from substitute Arne Engels in the 81st minute because of the Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who not only reacted strongly in the scene. Midfielder Niklas Dorsch missed the shot after a solo run (84′). “If we exploit the chances a little better, we have to win the game,” Demirovic complained a little. But everyone in the stadium was relieved that the firecracker probably didn’t do anything really bad.