Enrico Maaßen paced around the side of the pitch, gesticulating hectically, before the FC Augsburg coach, who was under considerable pressure, was able to celebrate his first win of the season, which was so important for him, after a long injury time. Captain Ermedin Demirovic scored two goals in the Bundesliga on Saturday to make it 2-1 (2-1) for FCA against FSV Mainz 05, who were still without a win. Guest coach Bo Svensson disappeared disappointedly into the stadium catacombs.
Demirovic, who was spot-on twice (15th/44th minute), turned the game around in front of 27,310 spectators after the early deficit with a header from Mainz center forward Ludovic Ajorque (6th). After Arne Engels’ red card in the 62nd minute, the Augsburg team defended their narrow lead with passion and a bit of luck.
It was an eventful afternoon in the Augsburg Arena. After 14 minutes, whistles echoed from the stands. At this early stage, Maaßen’s team around the starting eleven returnees Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Iago were wandering around the field disoriented. The Mainz team could do almost as they pleased. Center forward Ajorque’s header goal also lacked resistance and coordination in the center of defense.
Second Mainz goal doesn’t count
After that it could even have been 0:2. But Stefan Bell’s goal was disallowed due to an offside position according to video evidence. The mood of the Augsburg fans quickly turned into celebration. The reason was FCA’s 500th Bundesliga goal, in which Demirovic quickly pushed the ball over the line in the penalty area amid Mainz’s defensive chaos.
The game got tough after that. Both teams lacked offensive solutions. Nevertheless, the Augsburg team managed a second goal. After a throw-in and a total of three headers from defender Patric Pfeiffer and Demirovic, the score suddenly became 2-1. Two chances, two goals – it couldn’t be more effective than FCA in the first half of the game.
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A serious foul by FCA midfielder Engels on Aymen Barkok, which referee Marco Fritz first punished with a yellow but then, according to the video images, with a red, changed the statics of the game again after a good hour. Being outnumbered, the Augsburg team now had to demonstrate defensive strength, something they had not yet managed to do this season.
Former captain Gouweleeuw was often the focus. The Dutchman saved, among other things, after a failed punch defense by goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, who celebrated his first win in the FC Augsburg jersey against his former club.
