Thorup Plans Special Shooting Drills for Frank Onyeka After Missed Opportunity

Augsburg manager Jess Thorup has decided to put Nigerian midfielder Frank Onyeka through extra shooting drills after he missed a golden chance to secure a win in their 0-0 draw with RB Leipzig on Friday.

Thorup, clearly frustrated by the miss, said he would adjust Onyeka’s training programme to help improve his finishing skills.

“The big chance to make it 1-0 was there,” Thorup explained after the match. “I’ve told Frank and the team that I personally take responsibility for making sure Frank works on this next week so he can do better.”

With the game tied at 0-0, Augsburg had their best chance in the 82nd minute. A well-executed move saw Kristijan Jakić pass the ball to Dimitris Giannoulis on the left. Giannoulis then sent a perfect cross to Onyeka, who was unmarked just 11 yards from goal. However, Onyeka’s shot went wide of the right post, missing a clear opportunity to put his side ahead.

The miss summed up Augsburg’s night — solid in defence but lacking the finishing touch in attack.

Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, who kept a clean sheet with another strong performance, admitted the miss left him feeling anxious. “I was a bit desperate at the back,” Dahmen said, reflecting on the key moment of the match.

Despite the frustration, Thorup focused on the positives, praising his team for matching one of the Bundesliga’s top sides. “After a game against Leipzig, we can say we’re on the right track,” Thorup said. “A win at home against a top-four team was possible today, and that shows how far we’ve come.”

Thorup and Onyeka share a strong bond. They first worked together at Danish side Midtjylland, where Thorup helped Onyeka develop into a key player after arriving from Nigeria in 2018. Their paths then diverged, with Thorup moving to Gent and Onyeka transferring to Brentford. However, when Onyeka struggled for game time at Brentford, Thorup played a key role in bringing him to Augsburg on loan in the summer of 2024.

So far, Onyeka has made 19 Bundesliga appearances, providing one assist but still searching for his first goal. Thorup is determined to help him find the net. “In the next game, Onyeka will hopefully score in a similar situation,” Thorup said.

Augsburg’s unbeaten run now extends to six matches, and their next challenge will be against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 22nd February. Onyeka will be hoping to make up for his missed opportunity and finally score for Augsburg.