FC Augsburg
Mönchengladbach
1
0
- Referee:
- Florian Badstübner
FCA pick up first win with 1-0 defeat of Gladbach
Iago forced off injured – Niederlechner scores off the bench
First Team
18.09.2021, 17:30
FC Augsburg picked up their first victory of the season on Matchday five, defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-0. The winning goal came shortly before full time, through substitute Florian Niederlechner’s strike.
After the 0-0 draw away to Union Berlin, head coach Markus Weinzierl made one change, new signing Andi Zeqiri his first start for his new club. Niederlechner made way, dropping to the bench.
FCA performed well from the very beginning of the game and were particularly strong in duels. Weinzierl’s side looked to invite Gladbach onto them before attacking quickly on the counter. However, the precision was lacking in the final third. Gladbach enjoyed more possession but met their match in Augsburg’s defense. Denis Zakaria saw a defelcted shot loop onto the roof of the net (11’) before a Patrick Herrmann free kick went over the bar (19’).
There was significantly more danger at the other end of the field. Reece Oxford narrowly missed the target from a crossed free kick (36’), while Daniel Caliguiri saw his free kick hit the woodwork (43’). Shortly before, Mads Petersen had replaced the injured Iago. The last chance of the half fell to Ruben Vargas, whose bicycle kick went just over the bar (45’).
Niederlechner, came, saw and scored
The game went a little flat after the restart with Gladbach struggling to make their possession count and FCA focusing on defending. Just after the hour mark, Zeqiri found himself through on the counterattack but took too long to take his shot.
Shortly afterwards, Weinzierl made his intentions clear, bringing on two forwards in the shape of Niederlechner and Sergio Córdova (66’). A change which paid off some 15 minutes later after a long ball from Jeffrey Gouweleeuw found Vargas, who set up an unmarked Niederlechner at the back post. The substitute hit it low and hard to give FCA the lead, which he and his teammates fought for the remaining ten minutes to preserve for that first win of the season. Next Sunday (26 September), FCA travel to face SC Freiburg.
