Boost for Augsburg in relegation battle
Augsburg - FC Augsburg overtook 1899 Hoffenheim in the table courtesy of a 2-1 home win in a potentially decisive relegation head-to-head encounter.
Exciting finale
Augsburg started impressively, dictating the pace and creating all the pressure, despite failing to find a way past the visitors' bulwark for most of the first half.
South Korean pair Dong-Won Ji and Ja-Cheol Koo looked particularly lively in midfield, both missing the first opportunities for the youngest side Augsburg have ever fielded in the top flight, with an average of just 25.1 years. However, winter signing Ji did better just before half time, volleying Matthias Ostrzolek's long ball into the top left corner.
Hoffenheim offered only one half-chance before the interval - an Eren Derdiyok's free-kick - and likewise provided very little going forward after the restart. Augsburg, who have lost only once this year, showed no signs of decreasing their dominance and came close when Sascha Mölders threatened Heurelho Gomes' goal from long range.
Mölders had two further efforts denied shortly afterwards, but did better ten minute from time, finishing Koo's brilliant through-ball to make it 2-0. With matters seemingly decided, Augsburg shifted down a gear. That helped Hoffenheim to create opportunities and allowed substitute Igor de Camargo to pull one back, yet the Sinsheim side's desperate efforts came too late as Markus Weinzierl's men picked up their third victory in the current campaign.
Line-ups and statistics
