Piotr Trochowski scored the only goal of the game as Augsburg won their first ever points in the Europa League group stage away to AZ Alkmaar.

The pint-sized attacking midfielder struck a free-kick sweetly from thirty yards past Gino Coutinho to give Augbsurg their first win in Group L.

Markus Henriksen could’ve levelled it late on from Derrick Luckassen’s cross, but Marvin Hitz was the hero of the day.

Early stages

It was the visitors who had the first real attempt on goal. Former Hamburg man Trochowski looked to test their Dutch hosts from a freekick from thirty yards out, but his shot flew comfortably wide of Coutinho’s goal.

The home side grew into it as time wore on; Alkmaar’s star midfielder Markus Henriksen received the ball on the edge of the area in space, but his turn and shot was kept out by Augsburg shotstopper Marwin Hitz.

Augsburg’s own creator-in-chief Trochowski was afforded the same luxury by the Alkmaar defence, but his shot from twenty yards floated easily over the bar.

Hitz was once again called into action just before the half hour mark; Jop van der Linden came up from the back to take a free kick, but the stopper’s powerful left-foot shot went straight into the goalkeeper’s hands.

AZ waste a massive opportunity and are made to pay

The first golden chance came for Alkmaar not long before half time. Ridgeciano Haps flew down the left wing and his cross into the six-yard box should have been converted by Vincent Janssen; his shot went wide.

The opening goal came just five minutes after. Raul Bobadilla danced through two Alkmaar defenders before being crudely stopped by a third; Trochowski took full advantage, spinning the resulting freekick into the net from thirty yards to give the Germans the lead going into the break.

Their hosts looked to get back into the game within the opening minutes of the second half. Both Derrick Luckassen and Markus Henriksen  had half chances to equalize, but neither gave the Augsburg keeper too much to worry about.

Alkmaar stay on top but can't quite score

Most of Alkmaar’s best moments came from Jannsen and Henriksen. The duo tried desperately to drag their team back into the game, yet lacklustre finishing meant the chances weren’t converted.

Augsburg’s lone frontman Bobadilla was cutting a frustrated figure upfront isolated on his own. He finally had a sniff of a chance, but his shot flew into row Z, much to his own frustration.

The Paraguayan desperately wanted to make it 2-0, and when Caiuby with just one defender for company on the counter, he thought had his chance. But his shot lacked power, and rolled into Coutinho’s hands.

Augsburg had a really good chance to double their lead shortly after. Good work from Caiuby found Paul Verhaegh with time to put in a great cross, but Tobias Werner’s free header went wide.

Alkmaar were getting desperate, and very nearly rescued a point. An excellent cross into the box found Henriksen with loads of room, but his sweetly struck volley was palmed away acrobatically by Hitz to make sure the Germans picked up their first points.

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