FC Augsburg missed a new club record with five wins in a row against 1. FC Köln. The FCA and the billy goats split in a draw. The game on Easter Sunday (31.03.24) ended 1:1 (1:1).
The hopes of a fifth win in a row, which would mean Augsburg’s record in the Bundesliga, were fueled by Arne Maier, who shot the hosts into the lead in the 18th minute. Surprisingly, but not undeservedly, Davie Selke made it a draw a good quarter of an hour later (33′).
To the live ticker: Augsburg – Cologne arrow right 27th matchday arrow right
Disorganized initial phase
After the initial phase of the game, which was played somewhat disorderly by both sides, FCA gained more shares of the game, but there were no significant chances to score. When Augsburg suddenly celebrated, Arne Maier struck. Kevin Mbabu showed one of his cross-like throw-ins from the right side, Vargas laid it off perfectly for Maier, who hit the bottom right of Marvin Schwäbe’s goal from about 14 meters, where he had no chance.
Cologne seemed to have been shaken up a bit by the goal, but again – as at the start of the game – there were no clear scoring opportunities for either side. And a little as surprisingly as Fuggerstadt’s opening goal had come, Selke brought FC back into the game. After an ambush-like attack, Sargis Adamyan broke into the hosts’ penalty area with the ball at his feet, unselfishly crossed to the right, where Selke, who was running along, scored unchallenged to equalize.
Augsburg pressed harder, but unsuccessfully
Without Augsburg’s top scorer Ermedin Demirović (14 goals), who was suspended, the team of celebrated Danish coach Jess Thorup had a better start in the second 45 minutes. Mads Pedersen hit an unintentional assist from Cologne keeper Schwäbe far over the Cologne box.
The injury-related substitution of Elvis Rexhbeçaj after just under an hour caused a break in Augsburg’s forward game. Cologne, especially Adamyan, repeatedly tried long-range shots – but to no avail (64′, 65′). An Augsburg goal was disallowed due to a foul by Phillip Tietz.
But then the guests from the Rhine were very lucky: Fredrik Jensen and Dion Beljo put the ball on goal, Schwäbe was beaten, but Jan Thielmann saved for his keeper on the line. And shortly before the end of regular time, the Cologne goalkeeper held on to the point: Beljo exploited an extra time from Uduokhai, but Schwäbe reacted outstandingly.
Cologne against Bochum, Augsburg meets TSG
The Cologne team will host VfL Bochum next matchday (Saturday, April 6, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Augsburg is challenged in Sinsheim (Sunday, April 7th, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.).
