Hat-trick hero Alfred Finnbogason leads FCA to victory over Cologne

It was a day of threes at the WWK ARENA. On the third Bundesliga matchday, FC Augsburg got their first three-pointer of the season. It was a 3-0 victory over Cologne, and all three goals were scored by Icelander Alfred Finnbogason (22’, 32’, 90+4’). Augsburg also made three changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Mönchengladbach before the international break, with Daniel Opare, Marcel Heller and Rani Khedira taking the places of Raphael Framberger, Ja-Cheol Koo and Jonathan Schmid. The visitors were the more adventurous side in the opening stages, and threatened the home goal again and again. However, Jonas Hector lost the ball in his own half shortly after which allowed Augsburg to counter along the right flank and into the box, before Frederik Sörenson managed to clear the danger. In the 13th minute, Michael Gregoritsch tried one from distance, although the shot didn’t present much of a challenge for Timo Horn in the Cologne net. At the other end of the pitch, Yuya Osako tried his luck from 20 metres out in a central position, but the Japanese man’s attempt was blocked by Augsburg. Afterwards, Philipp Max pushed down the left wing into the area, where a perfectly placed cross found an unmarked Alfred Finnbogason, who left the keeper with no chance - 1-0 to FCA in the 22nd minute. Shortly beforehand, the Icelander had another chance to get the opener, although he couldn’t control Caiuby’s through ball. Cologne answered with an attack of their own, but Bittencourt’s left footed shot sailed just wide (26’). In the 31st minute, FCA were very fortunate to not concede. Martin Hinteregger lost the ball in his own half, leaving Jhon Cordoba one-on-one with Marwin Hitz. Instead of taking his chances against FCA’s keeper however, he looked to pick out his teammate Osaka, but the ball ran away harmlessly and the danger was averted. Augsburg made the visitors rue that missed chance soon after, as Finnbogason converted from the penalty spot for his second goal of the game, making it 2-0 to FCA in the 32nd minute. Augsburg settled down after this, and dared Cologne to take the initiative. However, one minute before the half time whistle, Daniel Opare crossed the ball from the right side into the box, but Finnbogason missed the ball and Sörensen almost put the goal into his own net. Cologne threaten, but without conviction FCA started strongly after the break, and spent a lot of time in the opposition’s half of the pitch. Even when Cologne threatened the Augsburg goal, the home side held strong. A shot from 20 metres out by Bittencourt was smothered by the safe hands of Hitz (62’). Cologne put everything into attack in the closing stages, which left lots of space for Augsburg to counter. A Finnbogason shot came from one such counter in the 75th minute, although it landed in the side netting. The men from the Rhineland didn’t give in though. One particular Simon Zoller shot within the penalty area was on target, but Jeffrey Gouweleeuw got his foot in the way to send it over the bar (80’). After another strong Hitz save off a Cordoba shot, Finnbogason scored the game’s final goal to make it 3-0 to Augsburg and also earn himself his first ever Bundesliga hat-trick (90+4’). After the Cologne chance, FCA countered through substitute Sergio Cordova, whose shot rebounded off the right hand post straight into the path of Finnbogason, who finished with aplomb into the empty net.