In the Bundesliga, VfL Wolfsburg avoided a curious bankruptcy against FC Augsburg by a hair’s breadth. Captain Arnold and Co. dominated the game, but failed for a long time due to bad luck and inability.
On Saturday (April 1st, 2023), a minimalist performance was almost enough for FCA to win. But in the end Wolfsburg and Augsburg parted with 2: 2 (0: 2). Mergim Berisha entered the FCA top scorers list (32nd). First, Maximilian Arnold hit his own net with his head (2nd). But not only that: He also missed a penalty (21st). The VfL goal by Luca Waldschmidt (84th) was followed by a very late equalizer by Felix Nmecha (90th + 6).
VfL captain Arnold twice unlucky
Unlucky Arnold significantly influenced the course of the game in the first half. Arnold scored his own goals in the second Augsburg corner. Even so, he involuntarily steered the game in the FCA direction early on.
But after 20 minutes of play, in which Wolfsburg dominated the game and was stronger in duels, Arnold’s losing streak continued. Arne Maier hit Patrick Wimmer in the penalty area, Arnold chased the penalty kick into the stands.
Engels excels in effective Augsburgers
In contrast, 19-year-old Arne Engels was the hero of the first half on the Augsburg side with two assists. Because the midfield engine hadn’t just shot the corner that led to Arnold’s own goal.
After half an hour, he also showed his qualities in winning the ball, then put it through perfectly to Berisha – and the newly crowned German international took advantage of Augsburg’s first chance of the game.
The half-time lead for the efficient guests was extremely flattering. Because Wolfsburg missed the equalizer several times. Yannick Gerhardt failed to head the post (24′) and Wimmer also headed just wide (44′). At the end of the first half, the “Wolves” had nine shots on goal, Augsburg two.
Wolfsburg determines playful events
And that’s exactly how it went after the restart. Augsburg hardly provided any playful highlights, Wolfsburg made steam and constantly put pressure on the FCA defence.
Augsburg rarely got into the countermovement because Wolfsburg was also good defensively and pressed energetically. Arnold in particular also did everything he could to make his mishaps be forgotten: he shot the most with five shots on goal and was the lynchpin of the game. And no one from Wolfsburg had a better rate of duels (69 percent).
And in fact he put Waldschmidt on the hook with a free kick (84th). Wolfsburg took this momentum with them, so that in the end Nmecha secured the well-deserved draw at the last second with his header – which saw Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz stray through the penalty area.
FCA against Cologne, Wolfsburg in Mönchengladbach
On Matchday 27, FC Augsburg welcomes 1. FC Köln (Saturday, April 8th, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). A day later, Wolfsburg must pass in Mönchengladbach (3:30 p.m.).