"Clearly discussed before the game": Augsburg speculated on a mistake by Manuel Neuer in draw against Bayern Munich
After his historic goal, Robin Fellhauer of FC Augsburg revealed that his team had been banking beforehand on a mistake from Manuel Neuer.
"Before the game, we discussed very clearly what Bayern's kick-off tactic is, that they play the ball back to Manuel Neuer and that he knocks the ball forward," Fellhauer said after the game: "That was my job in that situation." The forward pounced on a huge mistake by the veteran from the German record champions, who failed to control a backpass from Luis Diaz straight after kick-off.
After just eight seconds, Fellhauer was celebrating and had become the fastest goalscorer in Bundesliga history. His aim was not to "let Alphonso Davies block me, but somehow to run through and stop the goalkeeper from playing the ball fully under control. And in that case, it worked brilliantly."
Having got past Davies "relatively easily", he had already sensed his chance to make it 1-0 early on. "I then saw that Manu had let the ball get away from him a little bit and then I just tried to get as close as possible somehow to put him under pressure, and I somehow managed to block the ball. Then all of a sudden I was through, took the ball on once more and then shot at goal," Fellhauer explained. Asked whether it was the easiest goal of his career, he replied: "So far, you could say that."
Robin Fellhauer reveals messages from Karim Bellarabi and Kevin Volland
With an empty net in front of him, Fellhauer also revealed what was going through his mind. "If I'm honest, I thought I'd rather take another touch. Just so that I didn't shoot wide." After the game, he had already received congratulatory messages from Kevin Volland and Karim Bellarabi, who previously shared the record for the fastest goal in Germany's top flight. The two former internationals had each needed nine seconds.
"That's obviously a very, very cool thing," said Fellhauer, stressing: "You can definitely be pleased about that." He does not yet know whether his place in the history books will be celebrated. "Mr Gregoritsch only whispered to me a moment ago that I'll have to buy the team a round."
Bayern Munich: Why should Luis Diaz's goal have counted?
Even Fellhauer's lightning start was not enough for FC Augsburg to claim their third win of the season in their sixth league game. After Rodrigo Ribeiro restored the Fuggerstadt side's lead in the 64th minute, again with Neuer looking unfortunate, Nathaniel Brown made it 2-2 in the 80th minute. Ismael Saibari had scored Munich's equaliser for 1-1 in the 55th minute.
Bayern also had a Luis Diaz goal wrongly ruled out in the 50th minute. Referee Sven Jablonski, after a VAR intervention, penalised Josip Stanisic for an offside position. The goal had come from a new phase of play, as former referee Patrick Itrrich and FCB board member Max Eberl criticised afterwards. In total, the officiating team ruled out four Munich goals.
Still, Augsburg have every reason to be pleased with their start to the season. With eight points, coach Manuel Baum's side are sixth in the Bundesliga.
