Turbulent debut for FCA coach
Heidenheim leads 2-0 and loses very clearly
October 22, 2023, 7:25 p.m
With a double blow, 1. FC Heidenheim takes the lead in the duel with FC Augsburg – but the promoted team cannot save their early luck over time. Opponent FC Augsburg shakes off the early shock and gives the new coach a good start.
FC Augsburg showed impressive morale in the first game under their new coach Jess Thorup and celebrated the sense of success they had hoped for. Almost two weeks after parting ways with Enrico Maaßen, FCA won its away game against promoted team 1. FC Heidenheim 5:2 (3:2) despite an early 2-0 deficit and gained some breathing room in the table cellar again.
Tim Kleindienst (17th) and Jan-Niklas Beste (18th) initially gave Heidenheim the lead with a double strike. But Phillip Tietz (29th), Mads Pedersen (41st) and Ermedin Demirovic (42nd) turned the game around before the half-time whistle. In the end, Felix Uduokhai (64th) and Elvis Rexhbecaj (88th, hand penalty) gave Augsburg another away win in the Bundesliga after more than a year and 16 unsuccessful attempts – and five goals away from home for the first time. “It was very relieving to finally get a win away from home after such a long time,” said Tietz on DAZN, “ultimately it was a great game. We’re a close-knit bunch, you can see: everyone fights for each other.”
Thorup changes the system straight away
Unlike his unfortunate predecessor Maaßen, Thorup relied on a back four. The Dane had emphasized in advance that “mentality and running commitment” were more important than tactics. However, his team started cautiously. In search of the much-needed stability, FCA seemed primarily concerned about not making any mistakes and mostly left control of the game to the home team, who were ice-cold.
During a corner from the right side, Adrian Beck stole away at the second post, and no Augsburg player could clear his direct shot into the middle – Kleindienst just had to keep his foot in. Heidenheim stayed on the trigger and, in the person of Beste, took advantage of the lack of assignment in the Augsburg defense to make it 2-0. After the hectic attempts to control the game, FCA also had to use a standard situation. This time it was the Heidenheim defense that lost sight of Tietz. Augsburg was suddenly awake – and turned up the heat. First Pedersen hit the corner from the edge of the penalty area, seconds later Demirovic poked a low cross into the goal.
After the restart, Augsburg were initially lucky not to concede the equalizer. At the same time, thanks to Heidenheim’s offensive efforts, more and more space opened up at the other end of the field. While Tietz (62nd) and Fredrik Jensen (64th) missed, Uduokhai made the decision after another corner.