Augsburg coach Thorup's insane streak continues
As cold as ice in freezing temperatures: FC Augsburg has forgotten how to lose under coach Jess Thorup. Its winning streak continues against Eintracht Frankfurt. Suddenly even the European Cup places are within reach.
The snow shoveling paid off: After many hard-working helpers from FC Augsburg made the match against Eintracht Frankfurt possible in the first place following the onset of winter in Bavaria, the team also put in a successful effort. With a deserved 2:1 (1:0), the Swabians remained unbeaten in their sixth game under coach Jess Thorup and moved up to ninth place in the table. Frankfurt, on the other hand, missed out on a European Cup place.
In the Augsburg icebox, where temperatures of ten degrees below zero were measured at the start of the game, the recently injured Fredrik Jensen (35') gave the hosts a deserved lead, which Iago increased (58'). After captain Ermedin Demirovic failed to beat Kevin Trapp with a penalty (76'), Eintracht reduced the deficit shortly afterwards with an own goal from goalkeeper Finn Dahmen (78'). Augsburg's run of success means that they are slowly setting their sights on a place in the European Cup: they are now just three points off sixth place.
Goalkeeper Dahmen with own goal
Coach Dino Toppmöller made five changes to his team after the 2-1 defeat to PAOK Saloniki in the Conference League. Defender Robin Koch was back and the injured Ellyes Skhiri was absent. And the reshuffled visitors almost took the lead early on: Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen made a great save to thwart a double chance by starting debutant Paxten Aaronson and Dina Ebimbe (8'). It was the only excitement of the game for a long time.
Both teams were initially very keen to control the ball. It was only after just under half an hour that the game began to move. Augsburg's first goal celebration was still in vain: Felix Uduokhai's goal was taken back by referee Harm Osmers for offside after the intervention of VAR Sascha Stegemann (28'). But there was no going back the second time around: Jensen fired the ball powerfully into the goal after Frankfurt's Tuta had played a poor pass.
Augsburg remained at operating temperature. Philipp Tietz had the 2:0 on his feet immediately after the break - but missed the target (47'). Iago, on the other hand, elegantly curled the ball into the far corner ten minutes later after captain Ermedin Demirovic had extended Jensen's cross. Frankfurt, on the other hand, hardly managed anything going forward, even when Mario Götze came into the game after just over an hour: Dahmen put the final goal into the net himself.
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The Swabians extended their winning streak under Thorup, securing a 2:1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the soccer league. With this result, FC Augsburg is now closer to securing a spot in the European Cup, being just three points away from sixth place.
Despite the loss, Frankfurt's ambitions for a European Cup place took a hit, as they struggled to find their footing against Eintracht Frankfurt, with goalkeeper Finn Dahmen contributing to the home team's advantage with an own goal.
Source: www.ntv.de
