Kade brace inspires Augsburg as Bremen's relegation fears worsen

Anton Kade netted two first-half goals in what would be a 3-1 win for FC Augsburg at the Weserstadion.

Photo: Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images.

FC Augsburg's slim chances of achieving European football next season have been gifted a big boost after their 3-1 victory today. On the recieving end of the result was Werder Bremen, who contrastingly slip closer to the dreaded relegation spots with two games left.

Bremen started this game on the front foot with Yukinari Suguwara coming closest to the opener with a 6th-minute strike that whistled past the upright. At the other end, Michael Gregoritsch fizzed wide from a similar distance outside the box. 

The hosts built pressure, with both Pieper and Milosevic firing wide albeit from offside positions. However, against the run of play, Augsburg took the lead. On the break, Fabian Rieder fed Gregoritsch who slipped in Anton Kade to roll home with a first-time finish. 

Daniel Thioune's side, who briefly regained control, would be sucker-punched again just before the break. Dimitros Giannoulis was afforded too much space on the left, allowing Kade to attack the near-post cross and guide it to the far corner amid a chorus of boos.

Justin Njinmah's second-half cameo almost reaped instant reward for Bremen, racing free to go one-on-one with Finn Dahmen who pulled off a remarkable save. A minute later, the ball was in the net, but VAR intervened to highlight Deman as offside in the build up. 

Shortly after Claude-Maurice was denied by Backhaus at one end, Bremen grabbed a lifeline. Selim Musah's fizzing hit ricocheted back through the box. Deman's careful flick teed up Romano Schmid. The Austrian's shot had too much heat for Dahmen to keep out. 

The Bavarians would restore their two-goal cushion just four minutes later. A fine corner from Claude-Maurice was diverted to the back post by Marius Wolf for Christian Jakic to convert. Bremen's afternoon was summed up when Marco Grüll struck the bar in injury time.