Werder narrowly lose 2-1 to Augsburg

After an eventful first half, the deciding goal came straight after the restart

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Marvin Ducksch in a challenge against Augsburg.

Werder were not rewarded for their efforts on this occasion (Photo: WERDER.DE).

Match Report

Saturday, 04.03.2023 / 18:04

Despite passionate attacking play right up to the last second, SVW lost to Augsburg 2-1. The opening period got off to an eventful start without hesitation from either side, with a goal apiece. The opening goal by Beljo (6’) was cancelled out by Jens Stage ten minutes later (16’) when the Dane was in the right position at the back post. After that, both teams continued to attack and have chances, and went into half time deservedly level. In the second half, the hosts came out of the dressing room wide awake and took the lead again through Maier (46’). FCA then dropped back and managed to preserve their lead until the end.

Squad news: Bittencourt stood in again for Weiser, who is not yet ready for 90 minutes, on the right-hand side. Due to the absences of Stark and Veljkovic (both ill), Christian Groß moved into central defence. Ilia Gruev filled the vacant position in midfield.

Starting eleven: Pavlenka, Jung, Pieper, Stage, Ducksch, Bittencourt, Füllkrug, Veljkovic, Schmidt, Friedl, Groß.

The bench: Zetterer, Weiser, Philipp, Schmid, Dinkci, Gruev, Dietrich, Berger, Chiarodia.

An entertaining first half ends level

Jens Stage heading the ball in the Augsburg goal to make it 1-1.

Back on level terms: Jens Stage heads in to make it 1-1 (Photo: WERDER.DE).

Highlights from the first half:

2nd minute: A dangerous opening moment. Ruben Vargas sends a cross from the left into the Werder six-yard box, where Pavlenka makes a mistake with the ball. It comes off him to the back post, and he is lucky that the onrushing Augsburg player misses.

4th minute: On the counterattack, Werder almost make it 1-0. A volley from midfield finds Niclas Füllkrug, who is able to secure the ball immediately. His subsequent shot is well placed, but not powerful enough. The Augsburg keeper dives to his right and is able to save it.

6th minute: The game is going blow for blow. Baljo powers his way into the penalty area and finishes with a strong shot while falling. Friedl is too late to block, and Pavlenka can only watch the ball go in. Time to restart and go again!

10th minute: Schmidt nearly makes it 1-1. Veiga unintentionally plays the ball into the feet of the Werder midfielder in the middle of the penalty area. Schmidt reacts and shoots straight away, but his shot goes just past the left post.

16th minute: GOOAALLL for Werder! Stage levels the score! Bittencourt hits a precise cross into the penalty area, Gikiewicz and Füllkrug jump towards the high ball, but both miss it. The cross reaches Jens Stage, unmarked at the back post and in front of an empty goal. The Dane nods the ball in with a grin!

38th minute: Pieper misses a pass to Groß at the back. Demirovic takes the ball and runs alone towards Pavlenka. The Czech international makes a strong save to keep the score level.

42nd minute: Füllkrug gets the ball just behind the halfway line and drives onwards. After a good sprint forward, the Werder striker moves into the penalty area. Unfortunately, Gikiewicz is able to parry his shot.

45th minute: Engels sends in a cross from the right-hand side which reaches Vargas at a tight angle at the back post, but he can’t direct his header.

A shock early goal decides a close game

Marco Friedl in an aerial duel with multiple Augsburg players.

After a highly contested second half, SVW had to accept defeat (Photo: WERDER.DE).

Highlights from the second half:

46th minute: Werder get a shock at the start of the second half: Vargas plays a volley back to Demirovic, who plays in Maier. Pieper, Gruev and Pavlenka try to block his shot in vain. Augsburg take the lead again.

56th minute: SVW starts to have more and more possession. Augsburg want to try and counter swiftly and put in hard challenges.

63rd minute: Werder are counterattacking. After nice link-up play, Schmidt crosses towards Ducksch, but Bauer is alert for the hosts and clears.

72nd minute: Füllkrug breaks through in midfield and plays to Schmidt on the right. Schmidt’s cross is deflected and almost falls for Mitchell Weiser. Gikiewicz, however, after briefly struggling to catch the ball, holds on.

75th minute: Werder are on the move again: After linking up in the midfield, the ball comes to Marvin Ducksch on the left. His shot goes through the legs of the defenders, but just misses the right post.

78th minute: Mitchell Weiser moves in on the right and fires the ball into the middle, where Ducksch passes to Füllkrug. Unfortunately, Werder’s goal scorer loses his balance and misses clearly from a promising position.

82nd minute: Werder try again: this time Schmidt has an effort from more than 20 yards, however, Gikiewicz is alert and keeps the ball in his hands.

89th minute: SVW are giving everything for another equaliser, and are forced to hit long balls into the Augsburg penalty area, so far without any success.

90th+2 minute: There’s a penalty shout. Weiser carries the ball at full speed into the penalty area. Bauer makes contact with the Werder player, who then goes down. Referee Zwayer lets play go on, and the following discussion leads to a yellow for the Bremen bench.

90th+5 minute: Full time. FC Augsburg beat SV Werder Bremen 2-1

Summary: It was the hard-fought contest that was expected, but unexpectedly had many chances. In the end, the solid Augsburg side were victorious after making it 2-1 right after the restart. Werder still managed to be dangerous in attack after going behind for a second time, but couldn’t score another goal. A draw would have been justified, but the chances were still narrowly in Augsburg’s favour.