After a lot of video evidence, FC Augsburg celebrated the next 1-0 win against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, which was also unsuccessful under Pellegrino Matarazzo, thanks to Joker Fredrik Jensen.
After another bankruptcy and now eleven games without a win, it is getting more and more precarious for the Kraichgauer in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga. Except for a shot by substitute Andrej Kramaric in the 82nd minute, the guests showed an extremely harmless attacking performance and deservedly left the field as losers.
“It really hurts to concede a goal so late,” said Hoffenheim’s Thomas Delaney, but insisted: “I have faith in our path, we can do it.”
Two FCA goals disallowed
After beating Gladbach and Leverkusen 1-0, FCA got the next three at their own stadium. “In the end we take the three points with us, despite all the resistance,” said Ermedin Demirovic. In front of 25,872 spectators, the home side celebrated two goals before Jensen’s late goal in the 88th minute. In the first by Arne Engels, however, the ball hit the Belgian’s arm (8th minute). Shortly after the break, the video assistant intervened again because he wanted to have recognized a foul by Kelvin Yeboah before Demirovic scored.
The FCA attacker had unfortunately caught Hoffenheim’s defense chief Kevin Vogt in the scramble for the ball with his hand on his face. Referee Patrick Ittrich watched the scene himself and followed the VAR. To his annoyance, Vogt was substituted shortly after Yeboah’s hit, ripped his jersey off in frustration and took a seat on the substitutes’ bench, complaining.
With Vogt’s return to the starting eleven, coach Matarazzo wanted to stabilize the defense and ensure more calm in the build-up. But the first few minutes clearly belonged to the hosts. The ball was in Hoffenheim’s net after just seven minutes when Engels’ shot was deflected. But the goal didn’t count.
Hoffenheim offensive pale
After the last two 1-0 home wins, the home side’s energetic start fueled the fans’ hopes of another success. Increasingly, however, a tough fight developed between the two teams with many interruptions and few sparking ideas.
There was little to see of the once vaunted Hoffenheim offensive, only Christoph Baumgartner made a positive impression. At the other end, Ermedin Demirovic and Mergim Berisha created some danger just before the break, but their shots were blocked.
The Augsburgers came out of the dressing room with a lot of energy and quickly cheered again. New signing Yeboah, who was in the starting eleven for the first time, defended the ball in Hoffenheim’s penalty area, Demirovic first hit the post and then was successful in the follow-up shot. But again the joy was premature. Despite all the discussions, referee Ittrich again ruled against Augsburg.
Without the then replaced defensive veteran Vogt, Hoffenheim came under increasing pressure and could hardly provide relief up front. After a corner from Engels and a header from Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, Jensen rewarded his team with the winning goal.
