FC Augsburg registered a first away win of the campaign in the final match of the opening half of the Bundesliga season. Two goals from Alexis Claude-Maurice set FCA on the path to victory, seeing the visitors leapfrog opponents Union Berlin in the table.

For the clash in the capital, Jess Thorup threw winter signing Cédric Zesiger straight into the starting line-up, replacing Maximilian Bauer (concussion) in the back line. Home-grown talent Henri Koudossou came in for Robert Gumny (muscular problems) on the right-hand side of defence. Marius Wolf began on the bench after recovering from illness, while Fredrik Jensen was absent due to a cold.

FC Augsburg looked to come out of the blocks quickly at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Samuel Essende had needed treatment following a clash of heads, but he then picked himself back up to try his luck from a tight angle against Union goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow who was ultimately equal to the attempt. Frank Onyeka then broke through down the right flank in the ninth minute before zipping a low ball across goal. The home side only half cleared, with the ball landing at the feet of Alexis Claude-Maurice, whose fierce volley was directed just under the crossbar to make it 1-0 – his fifth goal of the season.

Claude-Maurice at the double

The visiting side, who looked to do things at pace and press high, were afforded a great deal of space to operate in by their hosts. Finn Dahmen was only really called into action when keeping out a long-range strike from Lucas Tousart (11’). In the 30th minute, however, that right wing bore fruit for the away side once again. Koudossou passed inside to Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, up from the back, who looked at home in the opposition penalty area when he laid the ball on a plate for Claude-Maurice inside the six-yard box. The Frenchman then had the simple task of slotting home unchallenged to claim his and his side’s second of the evening.

The first chance of the second half belonged to the hosts. Shortly after the restart, Jordan took a shot from around 15 yards out which clipped the top of the crossbar (46’). As the game went on, the capital club looked increasingly threatening, but just lacked that finishing touch. FCA, meanwhile, sought to use the newfound space to break on the counter; however, they never committed too many players forward as defending the 2-0 lead remained top priority. The score board read the same right up until the final whistle, which confirmed three deserved points.

FC Augsburg end the first half of the season in 12th place, with 19 points after matchday 17. The busy fixture schedule for Thorup and his side culminates in a trip to face Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion on Sunday (17:30 CET).

Match photos!

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