FCA come from behind to earn a point against Hoffenheim

Match interrupted for several minutes

FC Augsburg picked up a deserved point from a 1-1 draw against TSG Hoffenheim on Bundesliga matchday 11. The Fuggerstädter are therefore still unbeaten under head coach Jess Thorup.

Thorup was able to call upon Felix Uduokhai at the back once again, after the centre-back returned from serving a red-card suspension. He also went with Ruben Vargas also on the left wing.

Hoffenheim came to the WWK-Arena having won all of their previous away games this season so far. Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side started brightly and didn’t need long to record their first chance on goal through Finn Ole Becker. On the other end, Vargas just missed the target with a header following a cross from Fredrik Jensen (12′), before being called offside on a counterattack shortly after (13′).

Jensen then nearly beat goalkeeper Oliver Baumann with a cross that sailed towards goal (21′), but it was the visitors who would go on to strike first. Wout Weghorst was able to get on the end of a cross from Marius Bülter and head in the opener from close range (23′). Just two minutes later, referee Dr. Felix Brych pointed to the spot after TSG defender Kevin Akpoguma was judged to have handled the ball inside the box. He then reversed his decision after VAR confirmed that the ball had actually come off the defender’s chest (26′). This would remain the last noteworthy moment from the first half, as FCA headed into the break trailing 1-0.

Demirović equalises for FCA

FCA came out of the break having changed their tactics slightly from the opening half. It didn’t take long for them to draw level, as Ermedin Demirović beat several opposition players down the left wing before finishing in style into the top right corner (53′). Shortly after, the game was interrupted for several minutes by a loud bang in the vicinity of the away end. Play only resumed in the 62nd minute.

It was a cagey affair until the closing minutes, before Thorup’s substitutions brought fresh wind back into the game. The best chance in this period also belonged to FCA captain Demirović, who forced Baumann into pushing the ball over the bar in the 81st minute. Niklas Dorsch also went close after a good solo run, but lacked precision with his finish (84′). Sven Michel nearly put FCA ahead as the clock counted down the nine minutes of added time, but wasn’t able to get the ball over the line (90’+8).

The result saw FCA move past VfL Wolfsburg in the table, but the team remain in 10th (13 points) due to Gladbach’s victory last night. FCA will be back in action after the international break, as they travel to face 1. FC Union Berlin on 25th November (15:30 CET).