Augsburg's Hitz from zero to hero in Leverkusen draw
Augsburg - FC Augsburg goalkeeper Marwin Hitz scored a dramatic equaliser as die Fuggerstädter twice came from a goal down in a thrilling 2-2 draw at home to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Hitz blunder
The Augsburg goalkeeper was at fault as Leverkusen took the lead through Josip Drmic, but the hosts rallied and deservedly levelled thanks to Caiuby's first Bundesliga goal in 2330 days. Leverkusen substitute Stefan Reinartz looked to have won it against the run of play late on, only for Hitz to sweep home deep into added time.
Leverkusen laid siege to the Augsburg goal early on, with creator-in-chief Karim Bellarabi running the show just a day after committing his long-term future to the club. The Germany international showed Ragnar Klavan a clean pair of heels and shot wide, before forcing the first save of the afternoon out of the returning Hitz.
The Augsburg keeper had been out of action since mid-November with a serious knee injury and his lack of game time showed as the visitors took a deserved lead. Heung Min-Son kick-started a trademark counter, and when Hitz fumbled the initial effort from Drmic, the Swiss international had the simple task of tucking away the rebound for his fourth goal of the campaign.
Caiuby levels
Hitz made two basic saves to foil the effervescent Bellarabi, but another lapse in concentration almost let in Son for a second. The South Korean international curled goalwards as the FCA stopper scrambled to his feet, only for Klavan to intervene with a miraculous diving header. Drmic sent a cute dink just wide of the mark late in the half, with Augsburg having threatened sporadically at best through Raul Bobadilla.
The hosts will have been buoyed by the fact that they’d already come from behind to win four times this season - more than any other club. Leverkusen head coach Roger Schmidt sacrificed a man in attack to bolster his defensive ranks with the introduction of Reinartz, but the move backfired when Augsburg substitute Caiuby showed a great touch and finish to level in the 58th minute.
High drama
Bellarabi warmed the palms of Hitz in response, although it was Augsburg now asking all the questions. Bernd Leno hared off his line to deny Bobadilla, with Gonzalo Castro scooping off the line from Tobias Werner on the follow-up. Halil Altintop saw his effort charged down in the ensuing melee, before Bobadilla skewed wide.
There was to be another twist in the tale as Leverkusen defender Reinartz sunk what looked for all the world the winning goal with the aid of a fortuitous deflection six minutes from time. Augsburg weren't don't yet, though, and got their just reward when Hitz rifled in from close range after the visiting defence failed to clear their lines from a corner. Altintop almost capped a stirring comeback, but his effort struck the upright with virtually the last kick of the game.
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