Friday 10th December 2021
Dorsch’s dream gate
Augsburg, of all places, is stopping Cologne’s successful streak
Important success in the fight to stay in the league: FC Augsburg create their first away win in the Bundesliga since February 28th. In doing so, they beat 1. FC Köln, of all places, whose home series ends with it. Niklas Dorsch inspires with a dream goal.
FC Augsburg, of all places, has ended 1. FC Köln’s home series. The Swabians, without a win in 13 away games, won 2-0 (0-0) against the only team so far this season without a home defeat and improved from relegation place to 14th place in the Bundesliga for at least one night. André Hahn (72nd) and Niklas Dorsch (88th) with a dream goal scored the goals for Augsburg’s first redeeming away win since February 28th.
Cologne, who scored 15 points from the first seven home games under coach Steffen Baumgart, are now only three points ahead of FCA and now have to look down instead of up, as hoped.
Both teams started boldly and initially quite aggressively – much to the delight of the audience, who applauded Marvin Schwänke early on. The FC goalkeeper parried Hahn’s long-range shot safely (4th). FCA coach Markus Weinzierl had to improvise again in Cologne in view of the tense personnel situation, after all, captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Reece Oxford returned to central defense.
At Cologne, captain Jonas Hector was back in the starting eleven, “by far the most important player”, said his coach Baumgart. The ex-national player ordered the game of FC from his left side, who had not lost any previous home games this season.
Cologne more dangerous, but unsuccessful
The FCA, on the other hand, came with a weak away record. Michael Gregoritsch, who was appointed to the starting line-up for the first time in a year, should also score goals. Rubén Vargas (24th), whose shot just missed, had the chance to make it 1-0. It became the “intense” game prophesied by Weinzierl with, however, many interruptions and few highlights. The next attempt by Vargas grazed the Kölner Tor (29th).
During this phase, the hosts struggled to create promising situations. In addition, the standard situations in Cologne remained weak. The little-demanded Augsburg defense was safe until half-time, even without Felix Uduokhai, who tested positive for the corona virus.
Immediately after the break, Cologne increased the pressure. Antony Modeste was offside with his dangerous header saved by FCA goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz (49th). Two minutes later Gikiewicz was back against Modeste. Baumgart cheered on the sidelines.
Weinzierl reacted with a double substitution after just under an hour, Fredrik Jensen came on for Daniel Caligiuri and Jan Morávek made way for Mads Pedersen. As a result, the FCA stepped up its attack efforts again. The Cologne team continued to look more dangerous, but then Hahn was the hosts in the penalty area and scored his second goal of the season. Shortly before the end, the long-range shot of the strong cod from a good 30 meters fit exactly.