bundesliga

Michael Gregoritsch snatches last-gasp point for Augsburg at Hertha Berlin

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Michael Gregoritsch scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time to salvage a late point for Augsburg in a 1-1 draw away to Hertha Berlin.

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Hertha 1-1 Augsburg
Goals: 1-0 Richter (40'), 1-1 Gregoritsch 90'+7 (assist: Jensen)

Separated by just a single point and both in the bottom third of the table at kick-off, the teams were cagey in the opening exchanges, determined to keep things tight while the game settled. Ishak Belfodil had the first couple of sights of goal for Hertha after some initial sparring but was twice denied by Rafal Gikiewicz, before Ruben Vargas had a brilliant header matched by an equally impressive fingertip stop from Alexander Schwolow at the other end. An evenly balanced encounter looked to be heading goalless towards the break until former Augsburg attacker Marco Richter pounced on a defensive lapse by Robert Gumny to poke the hosts in front from the edge of the area.

That goal gave Hertha a boost and they were the superior side at the start of the second half, controlling possession and forcing Augsburg to chase the game. They struggled to create much by way of chances though; a Suat Serdar curler from the edge of the box that Gikiewicz pawed clear on the hour mark was the only chance of note until the 74th minute when Jordan Torunarigha bundled the ball over the line from a corner, but it was ruled out for offside. Augsburg could have equalised shortly afterwards but Schwolow produced a superb double save to deny Andre Hahn and Iago in quick succession, before Stevan Jovetic also had an effort disallowed for offside. The visitors refused to accept defeat, however, and were rewarded deep into time added on when Gregoritsch headed in Frederik Jensen's cross from the right to snatch a share of the spoils.

Match stats

  • Richter netted his third Bundesliga goal of the season, making him Hertha's top scorer in 2021/22.
  • Frederik Winther made his Bundesliga debut for Augsburg.
  • Gregortisch's header was his first league goal this term.
  • Augsburg are now without a win in their last 13 Bundesliga away games (three draws, 10 defeats).
  • The previous six teams to have beaten Bayern Munich all lost their subsequent game; Augsburg have now managed to buck that trend.
  • Augsburg had 20 efforts on goal in this match, the most they have had in any away match this season..

Line-ups

Hertha: Schwolow - Pekarik, Stark (c), M. Dardai, Plattenhardt - Ascacibar, Ekkelenkamp (Jovetic 66') - Richter (Zeefuik 79'), Serdar, Mittelstädt (Jastrzembski 73') – Belfodil (Selke 73')
Unused subs: Christensen, Piatek, Maolida, Torunarigha, Tousart
Out: Boyata (suspended), Darida (thigh), Jarstein (match fitness), Klünter (shoulder)
Coach: Pal Dardai  

Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Caligiuri (Framberger 84'), Gumny, Winther, Iago - Vargas (Cordova 67'), Maier, Dorsch, Pedersen (Jensen 67') – Hahn (c), Zeqiri
Unused subs: Koubek, Niederlechner, Gruezo, Gregoritsch, Günther, Schmidt
Out: Civeja (pelvis), Finnbogason (thigh), Gouweleeuw (unknown), Oxford (muscular), Sarenren Bazee (knee), Strobl (knee), Uduokhai (match fitness)
Coach: Markus Weinzierl