BERLIN (AP) - Unbeaten Leipzig continued its impressive start in its first Bundesliga season by beating Augsburg 2-1 to move to provisional third on Friday.
Leipzig, founded in 2009 when energy-drink manufacturer Red Bull rebranded fifth-tier side SSV Markranstaedt and financed its speedy promotion as a new entity through the lower leagues, is the first promoted side in the Bundesliga to remain unbeaten after six games.
“It’s nice to see that we’ve settled into the league,” Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl said. “But we’ll stay hungry; we’re not satisfied yet.”
Emil Forsberg fired the home side ahead, continuing Leipzig’s recent trend of scoring early after the 1-1 draws against Cologne and Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Forsberg was in the right place to slot home the rebound after Marwin Hitz did well to stop Marcel Sabitzer’s swerving effort.
The lead didn’t last long, as Ji Dong-won equalized three minutes later, eluding a defender and curling an unstoppable effort into the top far corner for his first goal since January 2014.
Timo Werner struck the crossbar for Leipzig shortly afterward. The former Stuttgart winger, just 20 years old, was already playing his 101st Bundesliga game.
Sabitzer was again involved in Leipzig’s winner, setting up Yussuf Poulsen to rifle into the roof of the net in the 52nd for his first Bundesliga goal.
Leipzig wasted a number of chances to build on the lead before Alfred Finnbogason missed a last-minute opportunity to equalize for Augsburg.
Leipzig moved level on points with second-place Dortmund, which visits Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. Cologne, ’Gladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Hertha Berlin could all move back in front of Leipzig after their respective games.
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