FC Augsburg were narrowly defeated by VfL Bochum. In a game of two halves, FCA unfortunately lost the match 3-2. They went into the break three goals down but almost pulled off a late comeback towards the end of the game.

Head coach Markus Weinzierl made one change to the team that drew 1-1 against Hertha BSC last weekend. Raphael Framberger came into the starting XI as Mads Pedersen, who recently picked up a knock, was named on the bench.

VfL had the first good chance of the game just three minutes in as Rafał Gikiewicz denied Gerrit Holtmann an early opening goal. The rest of the opening phase of the game was relatively even as FCA had their first effort on goal through an André Hahn volley which went wide (13’), and then Sebastian Polter came close for the guests (15’).

Polter makes it 1-0 as Framberger leaves the field with an injury

Bochum took the lead midway through the first half as Holtmann played Polter through on the counter-attack who had a free shot on goal against Gikiewicz and tucked it in between the keeper’s legs to make it 1-0 to Bochum (23’). Augsburg almost replied instantly but Hahn’s free header sailed over the crossbar (28’). Weinzierl was forced into making his first change of the match when Framberger picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Fredrik Jensen (31’).

It came thick and fast for FCA in the final minutes before half-time. Following a Bochum corner, the ball deflected into the path of former Augsburg player Eduard Löwen who doubled Bochum’s lead with a drop kick (40’). Weinzierl then had to make his second substitution of the match when the injured Andi Zeqiri was replaced by Michael Gregoritsch before Bochum added a third through Polter, who headed home Löwen’s corner from close range to give Bochum a clear advantage going into the break (45+2’).

Gregoritsch makes it 3-1 before Morávek misses a sitter

Augsburg had the first real chance of the second half, but Bochum keeper Esser was on hand to save Gregoritsch’s header. Esser was later beaten by Gregoritsch’s next header, as he met Daniel Caligiuri’s corner to make it 3-1 (57’). FCA missed a chance for 3-2 by a whisker just two minutes later as Jan Movárek was somehow unable to convert Ruben Vargas’ cross from a few yards out as the ball went high over the bar (59’). 

Bochum played much more defensively after half time, but they did have a chance on the counter-attack which Milos Pantovic was unable to take (70’). FCA were tireless on their hunt for another goal but were just lacking a precise final pass. Vargas was foiled by Esser before Jensen put the rebound over (72’). Another former Augsburg player, Konstantinos Stafylidis, cleared a Gregoritsch header off the line (78’), and then second-half substitute Sergio Córdova had another chance alone in front of Esser’s goal which he just put over the crossbar (81’).

Caligiuri makes it a tight finish

Silvere Ganvoula missed the opportunity to put the game to bed in the 82nd minute, and then the match became really exciting in the closing stages. Danilo brought down substitute Florian Niederlechner in the box and the referee Deniz Aytekin pointed to the spot. Caligiuri calmly converted the spot-kick for 3-2 (86’), but this was unfortunately the final goal of the game.

Despite an improved second-half performance, FCA were on the losing side at full time. Their next game is on Friday 10th December against 1. FC Köln (20:30 CET).

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