FC Augsburg secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over 1. FC Heidenheim on Saturday afternoon to make it three wins in their last three games. Defenders Chrislain Matsima and Keven Schlotterbeck both demonstrated their goalscoring prowess to earn another three points for Jess Thorup’s side.

The coach was forced into a number of changes for Heidenheim’s visit to the WWK ARENA. 18-year-old Noahkai Banks was handed his first start in place of the suspended Cédric Zesiger, while injuries to Henri Koudossou and Kristijan Jakić (both muscular problems) saw Marius Wolf and Frank Onyeka brought into the side.

After a tentative start from both teams, it was FCA who had the game’s first opening in the eighth minute when Elvis Rexhbecaj slipped in Alexis Claude-Maurice with a neat through ball. Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Müller was quick off his line though and intercepted in time.

Augsburg looked to be more in command in midfield and were patiently working the ball around, waiting for an opening in the FCH backline. The visitors, on the other hand, were looking for success through long balls. Finn Dahmen wasn’t tested until the 22nd minute, although it was a comfortable enough save to deny Jan Schöppner.

Matsima’s maiden goal

With half time imminent, Franck Onyeka broke through down the left flank and almost had the beating of Müller, but the goalkeeper just got enough of a hand to the ball to deflect it behind for a corner. The resulting set piece did produce the opener, however, as Chrislain Matsima stabbed at a loose ball in the six-yard box to break the deadlock in the first minute of added time.

There were no changes for either side as they emerged for the second half, although Frank Schmidt’s side returned with more vigour. Adrian Beck only had Dahmen to beat in the 53rd minute, but FCA’s number 1 stood his ground and made the save. FCH were keeping the home side on their toes more now, but there were also chances down the other end. Substitute Robert Gumny had a low shot parried away (69’), while Keven Schlotterbeck headed a corner onto the crossbar (73’).

Schlotterbeck wins it at the death

With just under a quarter of an hour to play, Heidenheim got the goal that their improved second half deserved. A miscued shot from distance went straight to Patrick Mainka, and his first-time strike deflected off Matsima and sailed into the top corner out of Dahmen’s reach (76’). The away side looked to use the momentum to grab a winner, but FCA didn’t give up on their hopes of three points either, and it was Thorup’s side who managed to nick a winner with almost the last kick of the game. Mert Kömür’s corner landed perfectly on the head of Schlotterbeck, who buried the ball to send the sold-out WWK ARENA into delirium and secure a 2-1 win.

The Fuggerstädter will now be looking to make it four straight wins when they travel to Hamburg next Saturday, 1st February, to take on promoted side FC St. Pauli (15:30 CET).

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