Stuttgart leave it late to overturn Augsburg

VfB Stuttgart 2-1 Augsburg
Goals: 0-1 Niederlechner 4’ (assist: Jensen), 1-1 Guirassy 15‘ (assist: Sosa), 2-1 Anton 90'+2 (assist: Tomas)

Augsburg have won half of their 18 Bundesliga meetings with Stuttgart, and they were off to a flyer once again when Niederlechner gave the guests a perfect start after five minutes. He galloped in around the back of the Stuttgart defence and was afforded the time and space to lift a shot past Florian Müller from close range. The Bavarians have thrown away the lead in their past three league fixtures, though, and this was to be no exception as Borna Sosa’s pin-point cross was met by Serhou Guirassy, who headed the hosts level from close range. Augsburg could have restored their lead when Mergim Berisha tried to lob Müller after he was caught off his line, but the Stuttgart custodian tracked back quickly and tipped the ball away. Silas and Chris Führich then wasted a promising attack as both sides had chances to take a lead into the break.

Berisha had the first chance of the second half, but he could not get enough power in his shot on the turn to trouble Müller. Wataru Endo had two even better chances at the other end, with Tomas Koubek turning his first shot behind at his near post, and a goal-line clearance denying the Japanese midfielder from the resulting corner. Guirassy fired wide and then sent an acrobatic overhead kick onto the roof of the net as Stuttgart pushed for a much-needed winner. Luca Pfeiffer sent a header against the crossbar before Endo’s shot on the rebound forced another corner. Koubek then kept out Sosa as Augsburg tried to withstand an onslaught. But something was bound to give, and it did deep in stoppage time when Anton rifled in a well-worked winner, sparking celebrations and relief among the home fans as Stuttgart picked up three priceless points.

• Augsburg relinquished an advantage for the fourth game in a row, after having also led against Cologne, Bayern and Leipzig.
• Stuttgart had more shots on goal (31) than in any other game this season.
• Anton scored for the first time since March 19, when his last Bundesliga goal also came against Augsburg.
• Stuttgart have now won six of their last eight meetings with Augsburg.
• Stuttgart have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 28 Bundesliga home games, setting a new unwanted league record. Their last shutout at the Mercedes-Benz Arena was a 1-0 win against Werder Bremen in April 2021.

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Stuttgart: Müller - Ito, Anton (Stenzel 90' +5), Zagadou - Silas (Tomas 66'), Ahamada, Führich (Egloff 76'), Endo (c), Sosa - Pfeiffer (Karazor 90' +5), Guirassy
Unused subs: Bredlow, Nartey, Coulibaly, Kastanaras, Perea
Out: Millot (knock), Vagnoman (foot)
Coach: Michael Wimmer

Augsburg: Koubek - Jensen, Bauer, Gouweleeuw (c), Pedersen (Uduokhai 79') - Gruezo (Maier 90'+3), Rexhbecaj – Vargas (Petkov 25', Caligiuri 90'+3)), Niederlechner, Demirovic - Berisha
Unused subs: Klein, Zehnter, Winther, Framberger, Baumgartlinger
Out: Dorsch (metatarsal), Gikiewicz (thigh), Gumny (adductor), Hahn (knee), Iago (suspended), Oxford (knee), Sarenren Bazee (cruciate ligament), Strobl (knee), Uduokhai (ankle)
Coach: Enrico Maaßen