FC Augsburg were knocked out of the cup two days before Christmas Eve. FCA lost 3-0 against RasenBallsport Leipzig in the second round on Tuesday evening.

Head coach Heiko Herrlich made five changes to the side that lost 2-0 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the last league game of the year: Robert Gumny, Reece Oxford, Tobias Strobl, Ruben Vargas and Michael Gregoritsch started in place of Carlos Gruezo, Marco Richter and Florian Niederlechner (all on the bench) as well as the injured Raphael Framberger and Alfred Finnbogason.

FCA sat deep from the off, trying to close the gaps and limit the opposition space – but that didn’t work. Marcel Sabitzer’s first effort went narrowly over the crossbar (5’), before Rafał Gikiewicz pulled off a great save to stop a Nordi Mukiele header going in (10’). But the goalkeeper was beaten from the subsequent corner. Angelino put the ball into the box, and Willi Orban headed in an early opener from five metres (11’). Leipzig continued to apply the pressure; Gikiewicz’s fingertips turned a shot from Sabitzer over the bar (13’).

FCA could hardly get out of their half, and Leipzig dominated with 80% possession and more good chances. Marcel Halstenberg’s header from close range was saved by Gikiewicz (21’), whilst Angelino could only find the side netting with his effort (27’). Augsburg only had attacks of their own towards the end of the half, first attacking the Leipzig goal in the 35th minute, although Strobl’s header went wide. At the other end, both Emil Forsberg (39’) and Amadou Haidara (41’) failed to get their shots on target too.

Poulsen scores – Angelino finishes things off

FCA lined up more offensively in the second half and attempted to disrupt Leipzig’s build-up play further up the pitch, yet the visitors had the first chances after the break. Kevin Kampl went through on Gikiewicz’s goal, but the keeper made the save (50’), and just a minute later he was there again to deny Forsberg (51’). By pressing them higher, Augsburg forced more and more mistakes from their opponents, but they lacked the precision to capitalise in the final third.

FCA’s first really dangerous moment in front of the Leipzig goal came in the 71st minute, when Vargas cut in from the wing and sent a shot over the bar. At the other end, Leipzig made it 2-0. Dani Olmo put Yussuf Poulsen through, whose low shot clipped the inside of the bar and went in (75’). And it got worse for the hosts. They were unable to clear a Leipzig corner and the ball fell to Angelino, who sent a curler into the far corner (82’). 

So Augsburg went out of the DFB-Pokal in the second round. FCA’s next game is in the new year, away to 1. FC Köln (2nd Jan 2021, 15:30 CET).

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