FCA into quarter-finals after penalty shoot-out drama in Karlsruhe

FC Augsburg are into the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal. With the scores level after a dramatic 120 minutes, the match was decided from the spot, where it was Augsburg who held their nerve. The brilliant Finn Dahmen saved his second penalty of the day, allowing Maximilian Bauer to score the decisive spot kick.

Jess Thorup made three changes to his starting eleven, as Finn Dahmen, Keven Schlotterbeck and Samuel Essende came in. It was to be a thrilling encounter at the BBBank Wildpark in Karlsruhe.

Both teams largely cancelled each other out in the first half. KSC were defensively compact and left few spaces, while Augsburg tried to cause a threat on the counterattack. Karlsruhe had a huge chance to take the lead in the 37th minute. Fabian Schleusener won a penalty after he was fouled in the box, but Marvin Wanitzek’s kick was superbly saved by FCA goalkeeper Finn Dahmen. FCA took full advantage soon after in the 40th minute. Samuel Essende headed home an Henri Koudossou cross to give his side the lead. FCA went in at the break 1-0 up.

KSC however kept their cool after falling behind and fought their way back into the game. Christian Eichner’s side were braver on the ball in the second half and equalised in the 54th minute. Zivzivadze’s ball-in was deflected, but came to Fabian Schleusener, who found the net with a powerful first-time finish. The first period of extra time was largely uneventful. Both teams sat back and concentrated first and foremost on staying defensively compact. The Wildparkstadion however erupted in the 111th minute. KSC pounced on an error in midfield, and Marvin Wanitzek finished off a quick counterattack to make it 2-1 to the hosts. He got on the end of a pass from Zivzivadze and beat the onrushing Dahmen to put Karlsruhe ahead.

Ruben Vargas rescues FCA to force penalty shoot-out

Augsburg though did not give in, and scored a dramatic equaliser in the 123rd minute. Ruben Vargas reacted first after Phillip Tietz’s header had hit the crossbar to make it 2-2. It therefore went to penalties. Both teams confidently converted their first four spot kicks, but, when Robin Heußer stepped up to take KSC’s fifth penalty and was denied by Finn Dahmen, FCA were handed the advantage. Maximilian Bauer converted the decisive kick to make it 5-4 on penalties and send Augsburg into the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal. This sparked wild celebrations amongst the 2,700 travelling Augsburg fans, who rejoiced alongside the team.

The FCA players can't spend too much time celebrating though, as they prepare to travel to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

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