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American teen Pepi impresses in 1st start for Augsburg

DeFodi Images / Getty

Berlin, Jan 16, 2022 (AFP) - American teenager Ricardo Pepi impressed on his first Bundesliga start with Augsburg on Sunday despite seeing a goal disallowed in a 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Pepi, who turned 19 last Sunday, joined Augsburg from MLS side FC Dallas earlier this month when the Bundesliga side paid a club record 17.5 million euros ($20 million) for the full US international.

The American created several chances on his first home start having made his league debut last weekend with 30 minutes off the bench in the defeat at Hoffenheim.

"We had some chances we could have put away," Pepi told DAZN.

"I felt good, but there is a lot to work on. You have a lot less space and time," he said comparing the Bundesliga to the MLS, "but it's about adapting."

Japan midfielder Daichi Kamada gave visitors Frankfurt an early lead as he held off a defender and showed great finishing to slot home after getting in behind the defence.

Pepi hit the net with 34 minutes gone, but the goal was ruled out due to a foul in the build-up just before his Augbsurg team-mate Michael Gregoritsch chipped in the equaliser from a tight angle.

The result leaves Frankfurt eighth in the table, while Augsburg climbed out of the bottom three.

Bayern Munich remain on course for a tenth straight Bundesliga title.

The Bavarian giants restored their six-point lead at the top of the table on Saturday when Robert Lewandowski chalked up his 300th goal in Germany's top flight by completing his hat-trick in a 4-0 romp at Cologne.

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