In extra time, substitute striker Phillip Tietz headed the ball onto the crossbar. Before that, a goal by Alexis Claude-Maurice was disallowed after a VAR check due to an alleged foul play in the making (80th). And a shot from substitute Elvis Rexhbecaj hit the post (76′). Werder goalkeeper Mio Backhaus was also still on the ball. With luck, Bremen (17 points) maintained their lead over FCA (14).
It is expected that the permanent successor to the quickly failed coach Sandro Wagner will be announced in Augsburg soon. As agreed, Baum should return to his position at FCA as “Head of Development and Football Innovation”.
Before the game, managing director Michael Ströll credited the interim coach with “a positive development” in the Augsburg team, which had “stabilized” under the 46-year-old’s guidance. This was evident after the 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen and the 0-1 loss in Frankfurt against Bremen.
Baum surprises with Wolf as a center forward
After the injury of Anton Kade, Baum surprised everyone offensively with another centre-forward line-up. Ex-national player Marius Wolf played up front. He showed off his speed on some deep runs. Wolf also had a chance to finish, but Werder goalkeeper Backhaus was alert.
And Werder? After 3:10 goals and one point from the last four games, the focus was also on more compactness. There was of course a lack of penetration in the opponent’s penalty area, nine corners in the first half alone fizzled out without results.
Baum also changed his attack strategy after the break. He now relied on the stronger youngster Mert Kömür instead of Wolf at the top. The FCA tried much harder to win the game. And there were chances: Robin Fellhauer crossed precisely to Han-Noah Massengo, who headed the ball just wide of the goal from a good position (60th). That had to be 1-0.
But the guests also had opportunities in the second half. Cameron Puertas aimed too high on a long-range shot (48th), Amos Pieper after the tenth Bremen corner headed not into the net but rather onto the goal net (67th). And in stoppage time, FCA goalkeeper Finn Dahmen made an energetic save in his own penalty area against the onrushing Patrice Covic.
