FCA and Dortmund share spoils

FCA earned themselves a point after they drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund in their final match of the season at the WKK ARENA. Alfred Finnbogason had put the Swabians in front just before the half-hour mark but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leveled things just four minutes later. Manuel Baum made just one change to the side that drew 1-1 away at Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend, giving Andreas Luthe his Augsburg debut in goal as Marwin Hitz was withdrawn with a hip injury. Augsburg took the game to BVB in their final home game of the 2016/17 season. Despite the away side having more possession in the opening 15 minutes, nobody was shying away from the occasion as Baum's men sought to hit Dortmund on the counterattack. It looked as though Augsburg were certain to open the scoring in the 17th minute. Philipp Max whipped in a cross from the left-hand side to Alfred Finnbogason who seemed poised for a tap-in but BVB keeper Roman Bürki got down superbly to save the Iceland international's effort. However the Augsburg striker got his reward in the 28th minute when Max again fired in a ball into the box which Bürki could only parry out. Finnbogason made no mistake as he side-footed into an open goal to give the home side the lead. However the lead did not last long. Following some neat interplay in the box, Sinji Kagawa had a go from 15 metres out and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got a foot to it to stroke home and level the scoring just four minutes after going behind. A lively first half ended all square with all to play for. Dortmund dominated after the break but Augsburg still looked threatening on the counterattack. The Swabians had a stroke of luck in the 50th minute as a cross from Aubameyang in the 50th minute narrowly missed and went wide. And BVB's topscorer saw another effort narrowly miss a few minutes later as his shot went over the bar. Luthe showed he was fresh and ready to step in when he did brilliantly to tip Aubameyang's header onto the post just after the hour mark. BVB pushed for the winner but the Augsburg defence held strong. Luthe was on hand again to keep his side in it, somehow getting an arm to another Aubameyang effort. Marco Reus had Dortmund's best chance of the match just two minutes later but he fired into the side-netting. Thomas Tuchel's side could not make the breakthrough and FCA held out to secure a valuable point in the relegation battle. A Hamburg win and a defeat by more than three goals to TSG Hoffenheim next week could still send Augsburg down, so preparations will remain equally as intense ahead of the Bundesliga's final matchday.