VfB Stuttgart fight back to win relegation six-pointer with Augsburg
Late Omar Marmoush and Tiago Tomas goals turned the tables on Augsburg as VfB Stuttgart picked up a huge win in the relegation battle.
VfB Stuttgart 3-2 Augsburg
Goals: 0-1 Hahn 6' (assist: Iago), 1-1 Anton 44' (assist: Sosa), 1-2 Gregoritsch 45' (assist: Maier), 2-2 Marmoush (79'), 3-2 Tomas 85' (assist: Marmoush)
Stuttgart went on the front foot as Omar Marmoush played in Chris Führich, who couldn't beat Rafal Gikiewicz at his near post. Augsburg went one better with their first meaningful attack, with Andre Hahn volleying in Iago's back-post cross for 1-0. Sporting Lisbon loanee Tomas fired over and Sasa Kalajdzic twice went close, before Stuttgart got the equaliser their play so richly deserved. Waldemar Anton headed in Borna Sosa's free-kick with a minute of the half remaining, but parity was not to last. Michael Gregoritsch swept home from inside the box following the restart to restore Augsburg's one-goal lead.
Stuttgart asked all the questions when play resumed, with Augsburg needing a brave clearance from Gikiewicz to stop Kalajdzic from getting on the end of a probing Führich cross. VfB were winning all the second balls, but clear-cut chances remained at a premium until Marmoush struck with a sensational free-kick to level. Kalajdzic had the chance to complete the turnaround seconds later, only for Gikiewicz to intervene at point-blank range. Hahn headed against the crossbar in a barnstorming finale, punctuated by Tomas' thunderous winner five minutes from time. The result takes VfB up to 14th, clear of Augsburg and Hertha Berlin in the relegation play-off spot on goal difference.
Match stats
- Stuttgart have taken seven points from their last three games.
- Sosa chipped in with his seventh assist of the campaign - and third in as many games.
- Marmoush and Tiago scored their third Bundesliga goals.
- Gregoritsch has seven goals in 19 appearances, including five since the turn of the year.
- Hahn scored his third goal, while Iago produced his sixth assist of the Bundesliga season.
- Stuttgart are the only Bundesliga team this season still to keep a clean sheet on home soil.
Watch: Matarazzo: "We never gave up, we stayed positive"
Line-ups
Stuttgart: Müller - Stenzel, Mavropanos, Anton, Sosa - Endo (c) (Mangala 64'), Karazor (Tibidi 77'), Führich - Tomas, Kalajdzic, Marmoush (Förster 89')
Unused subs: Bredlow, Mola, Coulibaly, Millot, Thommy, Beyaz
Out: Ahamada (toe), Egloff (back), Ito (unconfirmed), Nartey (knee), Sankoh (knee), Silas (shoulder)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo
Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Gouweleeuw (c) (Uduokhai 65'), Oxford, Winther - Caligiuri, Maier (Zeqiri 73'), Gruezo (Dorsch 86'), Iago - Hahn, Gregoritsch (Niederlechner 73'), Vargas (Pedersen 65')
Unused subs: Koubek, Gumny, Pepi, Framberger
Out: Finnbogason (groin), Günther (not included), Sarenren Bazee (knee), Strobl (knee)
Coach: Markus Weinzierl
Watch: Oxford: "We can't slip up any more"
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