Werkself miss chances in 2-1 defeat against Augsburg

"We want to get a result at last," said Gerardo Seoane ahead of the game setting out clear target for the first match at home at the BayArena. The Swiss manager demanded "high aggression and energy" at yesterday's pre-match press conference. Ahead of the game it was clear that at least one of the teams would pick up their first points. Both sides lost on the first matchday in the new Bundesliga season. In spite of a good performance last weekend at Borussia Dortmund, there was defeat to an early goal for Bayer 04, and Augsburg lost 4-0 at home to SC Freiburg.

With Lukas Hradecky suspended, Seoane opted to play Andrey Lunev in goal. The Swiss coach made four changes to the outfield players compared with the game against Dortmund: the other new starters were Mitchel Bakker, Charles Aránguiz, Sardar Azmoun and Adam Hlozek. Good news: Amine Adli was back in the squad for the first time since the away game at VfL Wolfsburg on 20 March where he suffered a torn ligament in his right thigh.

FCA score out of the blue

The match started as predicted: FC Augsburg tried to disrupt Leverkusen's game. But the Seoane team had their noses in front in terms of possession and were almost exclusively camped in the opposition half. However, the pressing by the visitors had an effect so that FCA were able to disrupt the flow of play for Moussa Diaby & Co. With 15 minutes on the clock, it was the almost invisible Augsburg attack that turned the game in an unexpected direction.

Out of the blue, Augsburg's Iago hit a low cross from the left in the middle to Ermedin Demirovic who picked out teammate Fredrik Jensen – Lunev stood no chance as the Finn put the ball in the net from close range to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

Werkself earn equaliser

The character of the game did not change after the goal was conceded: The Werkself primarily maintained possession but then again and again made mistakes in their build-up play, which gave the visitors openings – as on 30 minutes: Demirovic beat Bakker on the right wing and unleashed a shot that stretched Lunev as he dived to turn the ball away for a corner.

The hosts had the first decent chance on 34 minutes: Diaby crossed into the penalty area from the right and found Azmoun who just missed the target with a header. The Werkself were finally rewarded a few minutes later: A clearance by Uduokhai landed at the feet of Aránguiz and he hit a low shot from the edge of the penalty area. The unstoppable effort flew in to the net at the near post. The Chilean scored the equaliser just before half-time to cancel out the Augsburg lead (43').

The Werkself then played with more freedom. Leverkusen upped their game including in added time at the end of the first half: Tapsoba found Azmoun on the right with a long throw-in. The Werkself number nine again headed goalwards but put it past the far post (45+6').

The hosts struggled against the solid and focused FCA defence booked were unmoved by the 1-0 scoreline and deservedly scored and an equaliser that had long been due before the half-time whistle.

superiority in chances goes unrewarded

There were no changes on either side at half-time. The Werkself looked determined to win. Again and again, the Black and Reds found gaps in the Augsburg defence and pressed to take the lead. On the hour mark, Diaby broke through and tried a long range effort. The shot from the France international was blocked by Demirovic and the deflected ball headed in the direction of the FCA goal – Gikiewicz, who was already making his way backwards, was just able to tip the ball over the bar with his fingertips.

Everything went quickly after that: Augsburg increasingly lacked a grip on the game and the Werkself again and again found themselves in front of goal to create several opportunities but failed to convert them – as with a shot from Azmoun when he was unmarked in front of goal. Aránguiz followed suit and appeared to have netted a brace but referee Benjamin Cortus ruled out the goal due to a foul in the build-up (69'). The Black and Reds at the next great chance moments later as Diaby ran through on the last man but the Frenchman was unable to beat the Pole. 

Hahn substitution decides the game

On 81 minutes, the course of the game was similar to the first half: Augsburg had hardly posed a threat before substitute André Hahn hit a long-range effort into the net to make it 2-1. The goal was checked by VAR for a possible offside but was awarded. With two minutes to play before the end of the game, there was another chance for an equaliser: Tah tried with a header but was unable to hit the target. The match ended in a 2-1 defeat for the Seoane.

another home game

The team under Gerardo Seoane are still waiting for the first points in the new season. The Werkself are home again next Saturday 20 August (kick-off: 15.30 CEST) when the Seoane team face TSG Hoffenheim. TSG beat VfL Bochum today 3-2.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Lunev – Frimpong (Kossounou 87’), Tah, Tapsoba, Bakker (Hincapie 62’) – Aránguiz (Pohjanpalo 87’), Palacios (Demirbay 62’) – Diaby, Azmoun, Hlozek (Adli 62’) – Schick

FC Augsburg: Gikiewicz – Uduokhai, Gouweleeuw, Gumny – Iago (Caligiuri 65’), Gruezo, Pedersen – Rexhbecaj (Pepi 90’), Maier (Bauer 88’) – Demirovic (Hahn 65’), Jensen (Niederlechner 65’)

Goals: 1-0 Jensen (15’), 1-1 Aránguiz (43’), 1-2 Hahn (82’)

Booked: Azmoun – Pedersen, Demirovic, Gouweleeuw, Rexhbecaj, Gikiewicz, Bauer

Referee: Benjamin Cortus (Burgfarrnbach)

Attendance: 22,903