The club dropped the Nigerian midfielder from their starting eleven and conceded four times in 45 minutes.
Bundesliga side Augsburg paid a heavy price for dropping Nigeria Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka, suffering a staggering 5-1 defeat to Holstein Kiel.
The decision to bench Onyeka, affectionately known as "the tank," came after a previous loss to Bayer Leverkusen, where he received a yellow card.
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This strategic move backfired spectacularly, as Augsburg conceded four goals in the first half alone.
The match kicked off with Augsburg taking an early lead when Alexis Claude-Maurice scored with a tidy finish from the edge of the area.
However, Holstein Kiel quickly responded, levelling the match with Lasse Rosenboom netting his first Bundesliga goal after a cutback found him in space.
Kiel then completed the turnaround with two goals from Phil Harres, who scored his first Bundesliga brace, and a stunning free-kick from Shuto Machino, which capped a remarkable first half for the hosts.
By halftime, Kiel had established a commanding 4-1 lead, thanks to a blistering first of display, showing their clinical attacking prowess and leaving Augsburg reeling.
In an attempt to turn the tide, Augsburg made a half-time substitution, bringing Onyeka onto the pitch. However, Kiel continued their dominance and added a fifth goal in stoppage time, with Machino scoring again to secure a comprehensive victory for the newly promoted side.
This win was Holstein Kiel's second victory of the season, lifting them to eight points and narrowing the gap to Heidenheim in the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Augsburg's defensive frailties were exposed yet again, raising questions about their decision-making and squad management as they remain in 13th place in the Bundesliga standings.