9th matchday
Thorup’s thrilling home premiere in Augsburg
Arne Engels (r) scored Augsburg to win against Wolfsburg. photo
© Daniel Löb/dpa
FC Augsburg suddenly offers spectacular performances. New coach Jess Thorup experienced a passionate home debut in the 3-2 win against VfL Wolfsburg.
In front of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, the Fuggerstadt team once again turned a game around, as they did in the 5-2 win against 1. FC Heidenheim, and secured their second win in a row in a 3-2 (1-2) win against VfL Wolfsburg.
Phillip Tietz gave Augsburg the lead in the 17th minute with a goal in front of 28,000 spectators. Wolfsburg’s goalgetter Jonas Wind (35th) with his eighth goal of the season and Lovro Majer (45th/foul penalty) put coach Niko Kovac’s team in the front at halftime.
A curious own goal from Sebastiaan Bornauw (79th) and a header from substitute Arne Engels (81st), who had given the cross to equalize, made Augsburg still celebrate. After a yellow-red card against Felix Uduokhai (87th), the home team had to tremble again when they were outnumbered, but in the end Wolfsburg suffered their third defeat in a row.
“Never change a winning team?” Thorup trusted that saying. Finn Dahmen was in goal again, Tietz stormed up front again. The fans welcomed their new coach Thorup with warm applause – and had reason to cheer early on.
Central defender Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, who was removed as captain before this season, allowed himself one of his rare trips to the opponent’s baseline. Tietz tipped his cross from the right past Wolfsburg keeper Pavao Pervan into the goal. Thorup threw up his arms and shouted his joy.
Wolfsburg ahead after goals from Wind and Majer
The Danish coach had actually set the goal of keeping a clean sheet in his home debut. It would have been the first time for Augsburg this season. But nothing came of it. After chaos in the back line, Niklas Dorsch involuntarily cleared the ball to Wind, who stayed cool in the crowd and brought Wolfsburg back into the game.
VfL was now on top. Patrick Wimmer hit the aluminum post (43′), shortly afterwards Mattias Svanberg fell in the penalty area after contact on the foot with the unfortunate Dorsch. The video referee checked referee Daniel Schlager’s whistle – and after looking through the images, followed his line. The Croatian Majer, who was signed in the summer for a transfer fee of more than 20 million euros, casually took the penalty kick.
Thorup reacts with a three-way change
Thorup responded after just over 60 minutes with a three-man substitution. Ruben Vargas, Iago and Engels should give Augsburg another boost in the final phase. “We want to show that we are there and inspire the spectators here in Augsburg,” Thorup announced.
His players increased the pressure against Wolfsburg’s defense. Captain Ermedin Demirovic (69th) failed with a header, as did Tietz (72nd), whose supposed goal with his foot did not count due to an offside position.
A few minutes later, after a cross from Engels, Bornauw’s unsuccessful attempt to clear the ball from the half field sailed into his own goal. But that wasn’t all in the Augsburg madhouse. Shortly afterwards, Engels even scored with his head. The home team held on to the victory with their combined forces.