29. Matchday

14.04.2013 So, 17:30

FC Augsburg

Eintracht Frankfurt

2 : 0

FCA-SGE: No Joy in Augsburg

The Eagles lost their match away to FC Augsburg 2-0, both goals for the hosts were scored by Dong-Won Ji (27’, 55’). The defeat was quite a blow to Eintracht’s ambitions in their pursuit of a spot allowing European competition next season.

There were three changes made by Armin Veh tot he last starting line-up: Alex Meier and Pirmin Schwegler returned (replacing Russ and Lanig) and Srdjan Lakic played up front instead of Karim Matmour.

Promising Start – Hosts Pushing

The first five minutes looked promising with early attempts by Inui (2’) and Schwegler (4’) and a quick yellow card for Callsen-Bracker (3’). But around 15 minutes into the match the hosts started pushing and set the tune for the remainder of the game with a fierce shot of Verhaegh that hit the cross-bar of Nikolov’s goal (16’). Also Ji came close with a long range effort (20’) which went wide.

Augsburg step by step got hold ofthe match and opened the score after 27 minutes when Ji’s shot took a deflection and left Nikolov without a chance – it was 1-0 to FCA. On top of it all Alex Meier had to leave th pitch early with an injury and was replaced by Celozzi (29’). Three minutes later Verhaegh was brought down in the box by Inui and Augsburg had the chance to double up their lead with a penalty but Callsen-Bracker missed the target, he hammered the spot kick over the bar (32’).

Defensive Problems

SGE had a few chances by Inui, Aigner and Schwegler but all missed the target. Augbsurg had the more pressing scoring opportunities with Nikolov and Jung each saving the Eagles from conceding the second when Moravek and Werner came close. Frankfurt’s back four did not look as solid as in the recent weeks and FCA came charging, the Eagles were somehow lucky when referee WInkmann did not give a goal of Ji as he decided on a foul by the hosts (45’). The 1-0 score line stood at the break.

Matmour came on for Lakic at the start of the second half but it was again Augsburg who had the first chance. Mölders was free on goal after a Zambrano slip but his attempt went wide (46’). The Augsburg striker had another two scoring opportunities only minutes later when both times Zambrano was at hand to clear the ball – just (50’, 52’).

Struggle and Defeat

The Eagles did not get hold of the match at all and as a result of their passive play Ji was left unmarked and did not hesitate to score Augsburg’s second (55‘). That was the deciding goal already and both teams did not produce any major chances for the remainder of the match.

While FCA kept controlling the match allowing little SGE struggled to follow up their performances of the early season. 30,000 seemed surprised by the ease of Augsburg’s approach, they deserved to win this match which means a major blow in Eintracht’s attempts to tackle the zone allowing European competition. They will need to raise their game if the season is supposed to come to a positive end. SGE are ranked sixth in the league still and will host FC Schalke 04 next Saturday.

(Holger Ruhl)