Irié's late winner takes Freiburg past Augsburg with fewer shots

Freiburg came from behind at the WWK Arena with fewer shots than usual but better chances, while Augsburg had more of the ball and made far less of it.

Cyriaque Irié's goal in the 85th minute decided this one, and it arrived after Freiburg had spent most of the afternoon behind. Michael Gregoritsch put Augsburg ahead in the 18th minute, and Freiburg did not reply until Igor Matanović equalised just after the hour. Irié's finish, set up by Vincenzo Grifo, was the goal that settled it.

The surprise is that Augsburg had the ball more than they usually do. They held 54% of the possession, against a home average of 46.3%, yet that extra spell in the Freiburg half did not produce much. They took 13 shots, below their usual 16.7, and their expected goals total, a measure of how good each chance was, came to 1.05. Their usual home figure is 2.76, so the chances were both fewer and weaker than normal.

Freiburg went the other way. They had 46% of the ball, down on the 51.4% they average away from home, and they still ended with the better opportunities. They shot 10 times, under their usual 15.7, but their chances were worth more than the 1.19 they usually manage on the road. Fewer chances, and better ones, is a rare combination, and it was the one that won them the points.

Freiburg's goalkeeper had to work for it. He made four saves, which is the kind of workload that tells you the home side was testing him when it mattered. Augsburg also conceded two goals, a little more than their usual 1.9 at home, even though the chances Freiburg created were not the heavy ones they often face. Matanović and Irié did the damage, and Grifo's part in the winner was the sort of pass that made the difference.

Gregoritsch had the most productive afternoon for Augsburg, and his goal was the only one they managed in the match. His was a strong display for a side that spent much of the game looking for a way through. Freiburg's attacking threat came from several places, with Matanović doing the most in the first half and Irié arriving late to take the final chance.

The result leaves Freiburg third in the table with 13 points from seven games, a total built on four wins away from home and one draw. Augsburg are ninth on 9 points from the same number of matches, and they have now scored 17 times this season. For Augsburg the afternoon was a case of holding more of the ball and creating less from it, and for Freiburg it was the reverse, with the chances coming in fewer but sharper bursts.

Player of the matchM. Gregoritsch1 goal8.2

I. Matanović1 goal8.2

Cyriaque Kalou Irié1 goal7.8

Y. Engelhardt1 assist7.5