FC Augsburg are out of the DFB-Pokal. In front of 12,500 spectators, FCA succumbed to a disappointing 2-0 defeat against third division side SpVgg Unterhaching.

Head coach Enrico Maaßen named four new signings in the starting eleven for the first competitive game of the season, in the form of goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, Patric Pfeiffer, Tim Breithaupt and Sven Michel. Irvin Cardona was not in the squad and remained in Augsburg due to back problems.

Led out by new captain Ermedin Demirović, the game developed into a heated battle from the off, with the newly-promoted Drittliga-side not shying away from the game and recording the first effort on goal in the 13th minute through Simon Skarlatidis. FCA also to offer an attacking threat and began breaking into the Unterhaching penalty area more and more. Following a corner, defender Frederik Winther fired wide in the 15th minute. Demirović also shot just past the post after being found by Ruben Vargas on the right (22’).

After a short drinks break, it was the hosts who started the second part of the first period the better, and in the 29th minute, Patrick Hobsch knocked a cross down to Mathias Fetsch, who made it 1-0 to Unterhaching with a powerful left-footed strike. With over 4,000 fans behind them, it was now time for FCA to summon a reaction, and in injury time Demirović had the chance to equalise, but Unterhaching goalkeeper René Vollath saved brilliantly (45+1’).

Pedersen comes on for the second half

Maaßen reacted with a substitution at half time, with Mads Pedersen coming on for David Čolina. The second 45 minutes had barely begun when Michel advanced dangerously into the opposition penalty area, but FCA’s new signing was tackled at the crucial moment (46’). In the following minutes, the game remained fiercely competitive, with strong challenges on both Vargas in the 58th minute and then on Patrick Hobsch (60’), with referee Timo Gerach correctly not pointing to the spot on either occasion.

FCA threw everything at avoiding an early exit from the Pokal in the latter stages, with Dion Beljo, Phillip Tietz, Elvis Rexhbecaj and Mergim Berisha all joining the action. Until a curler from Breithaupt went wide to the left in the 79th minute, the necessary urgency was lacking. Only in the final phases did the chances begin to pile up, but none of Tietz, Berisha and Beljo had any luck in the final third (89’, 90+1’, 90+2’). Instead, the hosts made it 2-0 almost on the final whistle, with Boipelo Mashigo scoring after a quick counter (90+4’).

For FCA, this means dusting themselves off and working to improve, with the Bundesliga opener against Borussia Mönchengladbach coming up this weekend (Saturday, 19th August, 15:30 CEST).

Unsere FCA-APP

Jetzt herunterladen!