1-0 defeat in Mainz

It was a disappointing afternoon for FC Augsburg, who were beaten 1-0 away at 1. FSV Mainz 05 on matchday 22.

After picking up a point at home to RB Leipzig (2-2) last time out, FCA coach Jess Thorup made just one change to his side. Fredrik Jensen, who was suffering from a migraine, was replaced by Arne Engels.

FCA went into this one unbeaten in their last two away games, winning 2-1 at Gladbach and drawing 1-1 in Bochum. Mainz, currently second bottom, hired a new coach in Bo Henriksen on Monday, another Dane in the Bundesliga alongside FCA’s Jess Thorup. They unsurprisingly started brightly under their new boss, although chances were few and far between in the first 30 minutes. The home side came close to breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute, as Jae-sung Lee hammered the ball against the crossbar.

FCA’s first notable moment in front of goal came shortly afterwards. After Philipp Mwene’s handball wasn’t adjudged to be a penalty (40’), Ruben Vargas forced Robin Zentner into a fine save with his header (41’). Moments later, Mainz took the lead at the other end of the pitch. Sepp van den Berg flicked on a free-kick past Dahmen and into the back of the net for 1-0 (44’). Augsburg breathed a sigh of relief in first-half injury time when Nadiem Amiri’s penalty only hit the post after Dahmen had brought down Mwene (45+7’).

Long interruption, Pedersen sent off

Protests by the fans meant the second half was massively delayed at one stage, with the players even going back into the dressing rooms. Once the two teams returned, FCA struggled in the final third. The only notable attack came in the 70th minute: Kevin Mbabu’s cross hit Mwene’s hand – a penalty wasn’t given and VAR didn’t believe it was enough either.

Dahmen, playing against his former club, made two saves to deny Anthony Caci (70’) and Amiri (84’), while Vargas missed from distance for FCA. Substitute Mads Pedersen was then sent off for a bad challenge in the 12th minute of added time, capping off a poor day at the office for the Fuggerstädter.

Next up for FCA is a home game against SC Freiburg on Sunday, 25th February (19:30 CET).

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