FCA return home from Dortmund with a point

FC Augsburg fought hard away to Dortmund and will return home with a  deserved point to show for their efforts. The score ended in a 1-1 draw at Signal Iduna Park. Marco Reus gave the hosts the lead in the 16th minute, before Kevin Danso answered back for FCA in the 73rd. Head coach Manuel Baum made two changes to the side that lost at home to Stuttgart last week. Jan Moravek started in central midfield due to Daniel Baier’s suspension, while Jonathan Schmid replaced Marcel Heller on the right flank. As the whistle blew to start the game, the hosts didn’t hang around before putting FCA’s goal under pressure. An early shot from Andre Schürrle at the edge of the box was initially deflected, but the ball thankfully rolled just the other side of the post (1’). Augsburg responded in the seventh minute, however, when a nice looking counter attack concluded in Michael Gregoritsch testing out Roman Bürki. The Switzerland international had no problem with his shot. Dortmund found things difficult in the opening stages generally, as they tried to adapt to Augsburg’s aggressive play style. The visitor’s were indeed quite brave in their forward endeavors, but that would end up coming back to haunt them. After a rapid counter attack, Marco Reus smashed home the game’s opening goal from very short range (16’). They clearly weren’t satisfied with just the one goal, however, and upped the pressure on the resilient and organised FCA defence. But Augsburg dug in and created chances of their own. Raphael Framberger fired a shot from the right wing, although Bürki kept up his form in the early goings to save it well (25’). Two minutes before the break, Michael Gregoritsch was fouled by Ömer Toprak and referee Manuel Gräfe decided to award a free-kick to Augsburg just outside the area. Johnny Schmid stepped up to take it and proceeded to whip a dangerous shot towards the Dortmund goal, though a diving Roman Bürki was once again up to the task (43’). The resulting corner came dangerously into the penalty area, but unfortunately missed several Augsburg players by a whisker. The score would remain 1-0 going into the break. Augsburg clearly came out of the dressing rooms as the team with more desire and willingness to get something from the game. Philipp Max created the first big chance of the half when he crossed in a delicious left-footed ball to the area to find the onrushing Johnny Schmid, but the Frenchman's glancing header missed the far corner of the goal by inches (56’). FCA weren’t done there though, as Hinteregger and Schmid again both had chances to equalize, but came just short. They were probably wondering if it would ever come. But then came a corner to Augsburg. Schmid crossed it in to the middle, where Kevin Danso was unmarked in front of the BVB goal. His initial headed effort was saved by Bürki, but he couldn’t stop Danso’s follow up from the rebound. A well deserved leveller (73’). FCA weren’t done there, however, and pushed for another as the game ran down. Nevertheless, they couldn’t quite add another goal and it was the host's who looked most dangerous as the match rolled into added time. But after a total of 94 minutes played in Dortmund, both sides shared the spoils. And Augsburg head home with a fully deserved away point.