FC Augsburg fall to narrow defeat against US Salernitana

Defeat in first test of Italy trip

FC Augsburg took part in their first friendly of the trip to Italy in Salerno. FCA were defeated 2-1 by Serie A side US Salernitana at the Arechi Stadium.

The heart of every traditional football fan started to beat faster upon arriving at the ground. Just metres away from the Mediterranean coast, four super steep stands, which are only trumped by four floodlight poles, soar high up into the sky. The search for a roof is a futile one. The stadium’s architecture represents a stark contrast to the modern stadiums in Germany, thus having its own particular charm which is felt most of all by football romantics. Moreover, the turf goes hand in hand with the stands, which are in need of renovation and within which seats are regularly missing. This, however, had something to do with the fact that two large concerts were held at the stadium during the summer break from which the pitch was unable to recover.

It was important for FC Augsburg coach Enrico Maaßen to be able to give as many players as possible game time across 90 minutes during both friendlies ahead of the first competitive game at SpVgg Unterhaching in the DFB-Pokal. As a result, the players that will feature against the Italian champions SSC Napoli on Sunday did not appear on the bench. Instead they sat together in the stands in the block which was reserved for the approximately 20 FC Augsburg fans who had travelled alongside the team.

The first half had few key highlights to talk about, although both teams were constantly looking to press ahead. Tomas Koubek saved a shot from Salernitana’s captain Antonio Candreva in the 17th minute, and at the other end an audacious long-range effort from Mert Kömür was deflected out for a corner in the 32nd minute. A header from Dion Beljo resulted from this corner, although this attempt sailed over the host’s crossbar.

By contrast, the 3,064 spectators in attendance were entertained with goals after the half-time break. First, FCA new arrival Phillip Tietz converted a penalty won by Robert Gumny in the 53rd minute, before Salernitana’s Lassana Coulibaly left Tomas Koubek with no chance with a curling effort into the far corner in the 59th minute. Moreover, Koubek was powerless to prevent Salernitana’s second goal as Erik Botheim squeezed a ball into the box over the line from seven metres out in the 73rd minute.

Hosts turn the game on its head

Salernitana, coached by the Portuguese Paulo Sousa who was once a player at Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, had turned the game around and brought on a couple of fresh pairs of legs, whilst FC Augsburg still tried to find an equaliser. However, Dion Beljo and Phillip Tietz (both with headers) as well as Frederik Jensen (hit the bar) and Nathaneal Mbuku failed to beat the host’s goalkeeper in the closing stages. Thus, the score remained 2-1 to the hosts as Augsburg fell to a narrow defeat.

The friendly, which was incidentally the final dress rehearsal for Salernitana ahead of the start of the Serie A season next weekend, was held as the second instalment of the Angelo Iervolino Trophy. The brother of club president Danilo Iervolino passed away a few years ago, with proceeds from the game going to support the Italian Leukemia Federation. The hosts were therefore able to keep the impressive trophy in Italy.

Starting XI: Koubek, Gumny (69’ Stanic), Pedersen (72’ Zehnter), Beljo, Uduokhai, Tietz, Iago (83’ Sarenren Bazee), Bauer, Jensen, Mbuku, Kömür

Bench: Dahmen, Stanic, Sarenren Bazee, Zehnter