2023-10-23 21:40:01
What a debut: After a wild exchange of blows and a 0-2 deficit, FCA won the first game under coach Jess Thorup 5-2 at Heidenheim.
When he had completed his first 90 minutes as Bundesliga coach, Jess Thorup clenched his fists, took a deep breath and then high-fived everyone he found in front of the bench. It was a breathtaking premiere. Because his team won 5:2 (3:2) against promoted team 1. FC Heidenheim after a 0-2 deficit. What a welcome to the Bundesliga for the Dane.
FCA with four changes compared to the Darmstadt game
Around an hour before the start of the game, the first secret was revealed: Jess Thourp’s starting line-up for his Bundesliga debut. The 53-year-old continued to rely on goalkeeper Finn Dahmen. On Friday he had still avoided a guarantee of action. Otherwise, he changed the starting eleven compared to the 1:2 against Darmstadt before the international break; it was the last of his predecessor Enrico Maaßen in four positions. Mads Pedersen, Sven Michel, Fredrik Jensen and ex-Heidenheimer Niklas Dorsch are joining the team, while Patric Pfeiffer, Dion Beljo, Tim Breithaupt and Iago had to leave.
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Before the game, Thorup, who again wore a suit but no tie, appeared calm. Before warming up, he spoke to Niklas Dorsch, but also to Arne Engels, who is back in the squad after his red card suspension. And he also exchanged a few words with Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt. Then Thorup went to the 2,000 or so FCA fans who had traveled with him and put his hand on his heart as if he wanted to show off. We give everything for you.
“An offensive mindset is important to me. With and without the ball,” Thorup said before the game DAZN explained. He also wanted to underline this offensive orientation on the pitch with the tactical change from the Maaßen three-man chain to a 4-4-2.
Head trainer Jess Thorup gives Niklas Dorsch instructions.
Photo: Christian Kolbert
FCA with a wild first half: 0:2 after 18 minutes, 3:2 at halftime
But after 18 minutes, all of Augsburg’s plans were thrown out the window. Because by then it was already 2-0 for the hosts. In the 17th minute, after a Heidenheim corner, there was confusion in the FCA defense, including goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, which Tim Kleindienst took advantage of to make it 1-0 (17th). Of all people, Kleindienst, who Thorup had brought to KAA Gent together with Dorsch. Less than a minute later, Danish Bundesliga novice Thorup had to watch the score go down 2-0 (18th) from the sidelines. The left side of the FCA defense had holes like an old wool sock. Omar Traoré took advantage of this with a flat cross that Niklas Beste pushed unstoppably over the line.
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The effect of the coaching change seemed to have already evaporated. The downward spiral seemed to continue. Somehow Thorup got his positive belief, his mindset, into the heads of his players in just five days. Because after 42 minutes the 0:2 was turned into 3:2. In the 29th minute, Phillip Tietz converted a corner volley from Fredrik Jensen to make it 1-2. Mads Pedersen scored the equalizer to 2-2 (41st) with a fantastic shot from the outside of the foot after good preparatory work by Tietz, who became more and more present as the game progressed. And just one minute and 26 seconds later, Ermedin Demirovic converted the first passable counterattack to make it 3-2 (42nd). That was the cabin. The 2,000 FCA fans could hardly believe that their team had overcome such a deficit, the 13,000 Heidenheimers that their team took a two-goal lead for the second time this season in the sold-out Voith Arena on the Schloßberg had given hands. It was enough to win 4-2 at home against Bremen.
Elvis Rexhbecaj scored the final score to make it 5-2 for FCA
No more against the FCA. The preliminary decision in the 63rd minute. Jensen brought a flat corner inwards, which Felix Uduokhai maneuvered with his stomach into the Heidenheim goal to make it 4-2. Thorup not only demonstrated a feeling for psychology, but also for personnel selection. Pedersen scored once and Jensen prepared three goals. Elvis Rexhbecaj then scored the final point with a converted penalty kick to make it 5-2 in the 88th minute.
The first away win after more than a year of waiting was complete. On October 2nd, FCA won 3-2 at Schalke. FCA has now moved past Heidenheim with eight points and is in tenth place. It can happen that quickly.
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