Won the Swabian duel, left the relegation zone: VfB Stuttgart landed a big point with the spectacular 3-2 win over FC Augsburg.
The comeback kings from VfB Stuttgart received their well-deserved applause to deafening chants of jubilation. Driven by a good 55,000 fans, the Swabians managed a tremendous, spectacular 3:2 (1:2) victory against their direct opponent FC Augsburg. For the first time since January, VfB left the relegation places – and the outgoing CEO Thomas Hitzlsperger got the desired “super awesome day” as a farewell.
“The game speaks for itself,” said VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo sky: “It’s great how the boys come back. And the fans here – it’s a great experience.”
The game started catastrophically from a Stuttgart point of view. After six minutes, Andre Hahn gave FCA the lead with a fine volley. Waldemar Anton (44′) scored to equalize before Michael Gregoritsch (45′) responded quickly. But Omar Marmoush (79th) with a dream free kick and Tiago Tomas (85th) created a party atmosphere in the Ländle – as in the similarly spectacular 3-2 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach two weeks ago.
VfB Stuttgart turns the game late again
The Stuttgarters overtook the Augsburgers as table 14. – the team of ex-VfB coach Markus Weinzierl played one game less.
“It’s a catastrophe to lose the game like that,” scolded Augsburg’s Daniel Caligiuri sky: “After taking the lead, we played far too little football and made Stuttgart strong. Maybe we were too afraid of making a mistake.” Weinzierl agreed: “We had too much respect to win the game here.”
Before kick-off, Hitzlsperger was ceremoniously adopted. “I wish for an emotional and great day. We all deserve it,” said the former international.
Hitzlsperger will hand over his post to Alexander Wehrle at the end of March. The 39-year-old received thunderous applause from the 55,785 spectators in the arena. Due to a special permit, VfB was able to count on the full stadium support of its fans for the first time since the beginning of the corona pandemic.
VfB – FCA: Marmoush scores with a perfect free kick
However, it was Augsburg who cheered early after the first successful attack. Hahn sank an Iago cross into the long corner.
The Weinzierl-Elf then gave up any ambitions on the offensive, and the Stuttgart team, cheered on loudly by their supporters, were allowed to create a large number of chances. But Tiago Tomas with a flick (23′), Sasa Kalajdzic (28’/31′) and Wataru Endo (42′) didn’t succeed.
Shortly before the break, the well-deserved sense of achievement: Anton headed in a free-kick cross from Borna Sosa for a much-celebrated equaliser. Only a few seconds later, FCA answered out of nowhere: Arne Maier served perfectly against Stuttgart’s Gregoritsch, who was defending carelessly and scored his seventh goal of the season from a completely free stand.
After the change of sides, Stuttgart pressed for the equalizer, but the tightly staggered defense of Augsburg hardly allowed any major chances. A perfectly executed free-kick from Marmoush shook the stadium. But the increase followed.
VfB Stuttgart – FC Augsburg: The voices
Pellegrino Matarazzo (VfB Stuttgart coach): “You could see that the team was alive, that’s what we wanted and that we deserved to turn the game around. Emotions, passion, team spirit, that’s important in football. That was very emotional, the 3-2 win. The fans were incredibly supportive and a factor in why we were able to turn the game.”
Markus Weinzierl (FC Augsburg coach): “A bitter defeat. All in all, we didn’t play enough football after the openings. The opponents were simply dominant and that’s how the standards came about. We didn’t get enough relief up front. The balls were gone too quickly, we could couldn’t free themselves and that made the pressure even greater.”
