Bundesliga
Essende shoots effective Augsburg to victory in Bremen
Updated January 19, 2025 – 8:03 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Augsburg is firmly in the Bundesliga midfield. The South Germans won in Bremen thanks to a striker in top form.
At the end of the 18th Bundesliga matchday, FC Augsburg gained a good cushion over the relegation zone.
Thanks to two goals from striker Samuel Essende (5th and 45th + 1 minute), the Bavarian Swabians won 2-0 (2-0) at Werder Bremen, which increased the gap to relegation place 16 to eight points.
“We want to get our first win of the new year,” Werner said before the game. But then Essende thwarted all of Bremen’s plans shortly after kick-off, the 26-year-old came through strongly and skillfully hit the left corner. In the scene, the Werder defense around captain Marco Friedl, who returned after his yellow card suspension, didn’t look good at all.
The Bremen team were only briefly shocked in front of 39,350 spectators, shook themselves and tried to regain control of the game. Driven by Marvin Ducksch and Leonardo Bittencourt, the team kept moving forward – but it wasn’t really dangerous.
This was also due to the fact that Augsburg defended in a very disciplined manner and their offside trap was often sprung. With the lead behind them, the guests were primarily concerned with standing securely – in order to then put pinpricks after winning the ball on the counterattack. Referee Benjamin Brand withdrew a red card initially imposed on Augsburg’s Kristijan Jakić after a supposed emergency stop on Ducksch after video evidence (41′). “Stupid action,” Ducksch admitted afterwards because he fell too easily in the scene and couldn’t run freely towards the goal. Brand Werder also refused a possible hand penalty shortly afterwards.
As in the initial phase, Werder’s defense fell asleep again shortly before half-time when Essende’s second goal was scored; the Congolese international was able to calmly head in after a cross from Dimitrios Giannoulis.
Werder reacted with anger and quickly had the opportunity to score. But Marco Grüll only hit the post (55th), seconds later Finn Dahmen parried against Ducksch. As the game went on, the home side increased the risk again – but the lucky punch was no longer successful.