Dream goal from Claude-Maurice
©IMAGO
A dream goal from Alexis Claude-Maurice prevented FC Augsburg from winning against Union Berlin in the Bundesliga relegation battle. The Frenchman’s effortless shot at 93.77 kilometers per hour from 27 meters gave the team a 1-0 lead deep into stoppage time in the first half. But when they were outnumbered, Union equalized at the end of the first half of the season to make it 1-1 (0-1) thanks to substitute Marin Ljubicic (90+2) in stoppage time.
FCA remains in 15th place in the table with 15 points. Claude-Maurice hit the post with a free kick after the break (59th). In the final phase, Union player Derrick Köhn (89th) received a red card for serious foul play.
One day after the announced contract extension with coach Steffen Baumgart, Union Berlin ended the first half of the season in ninth place with 23 points. Before Augsburg’s 1-0 win, the Eisernen missed several good scoring opportunities through András Schäfer (18th minute), Woo-yeong Jeong (22nd) and Oliver Burke (29th).
Fan protest in Augsburg against fragmented match days
The most creative action in front of 27,267 spectators in the Augsburg Arena was initially a fan protest in an uninspired football game. After half an hour, small balls flew from the FCA block onto the pitch, which led to an interruption of several minutes. Because of the unusual scheduling of the game on Thursday evening, Augsburg supporters protested against “fragmented match days” in the Bundesliga. That’s what it said on a banner.
When the items had been put away, FCA, who had been visibly unsettled until then, entered the game – via standards. After the first (!) corner of the game from Claude-Maurice, captain Keven Schlotterbeck headed too centrally towards the Berlin goal and goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow (45th + 2). Shortly afterwards, 27-year-old Claude-Maurice’s big moment came. The Frenchman smashed the ball wonderfully into the goal practically from a standing start.
Everyone in the stadium was amazed at this shot, FCA coach Manuel Baum stormed onto the pitch in celebration. “I hope that this goal is a wake-up call for everyone in the stadium,” said record national player Lothar Matthäus in the half-time analysis as an expert on the TV channel “Sky”.
The level didn’t increase much. But Augsburg, inspired by the opening goal, now played with more self-confidence and attitude. What was missing was the second goal, which Anton Kade scored on a counterattack. The youngster failed because of goalkeeper Rönnow (60th). The shock of the equalizer hit the hosts with one man more in stoppage time. As on the match day before, Ljubicic, who had been ignored for a long time, came in as a joker – second appearance, second goal. Shortly before, speculation had arisen about a possible move to Schalke. The appearances could possibly lead to a rethink.
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