FCA beat Schwaben Augsburg 3-0 in first friendly of pre-season

In front of 2,500 spectators at the Rosenau

FC Augsburg kicked off pre-season at the Rosenaustadion as they took on TSV Schwaben Augsburg, who were promoted to the Regionalliga last season. FCA ran out 3-0 winners against their city neighbours.

New signings Nediljko Labrović and Yusuf Kabadayi were named in the starting eleven for the Fuggerstädter, who returned to training on Monday. Homegrown prospects Noahkai Banks and Mert Kömür were also included in the side. There was a familiar face on the opposition bench in the shape of Schwaben Augsburg coach Matthias Ostrzolek, who made 74 competitive appearances for FCA as a player.

2,500 fans were at a sold-out Rosenau to watch FCA take to the field for the first time this season, as the players also debuted our new renaissance-style home shirts. The game was lively from the start, and both sides began on the front foot. Irvin Cardona, who recently returned from a loan spell, had FCA’s first sight of goal as he lifted the ball into the net, albeit from a narrowly offside position (10’).

Nathanaël Mbuku broke the deadlock with a strike into the corner after an assist from his countryman Cardona (24’). Mbuku had a great chance to get his second in the 26th minute but fired just wide, as did Kabadayi a few minutes later (30’). Just before half time, Labrović made a superb stop from Schwaben striker Bastian Kurz (43’).

Tietz with a cheeky backheel

Thorup changed all eleven players at the break, as Samuel Essende and Keven Schlotterbeck also made their debuts for the Fuggerstädter. Essende was immediately involved and had a potential debut goal chalked off for offside. He then inadvertently set up FCA’s second goal when the ball deflected off Essende into the path of Phillip Tietz, who flicked home a cheeky backheel from close range (54’).

After Fredrik Jensen struck the post in the 60th minute, FCA were awarded a penalty five minutes later. Masaya Okugawa both won and scored the kick to put his side 3-0 up. Both sides created a number of good chances in the remainder of the game, but there was no addition to the scoresheet in Augsburg. Young fans then lined up for autographs.

Die Bildergalerie zum Spiel!

FCA will travel to their training camp in Mpumalanga, South Africa on Wednesday. Thorup’s side will compete in the Mpumalanga Premier’s International Cup, where they will face Young Africans SC (20th July) and TS Galaxy (27th July).

FCA: Labrović (Klein 46’) – Banks (Koudossou 46’), Gouweleeuw (Bauer 46’), Pfeiffer (Schlotterbeck 46’), Pedersen (Čolina 46’) – Dorsch (Breithaupt 46’), Engels (Jensen 46’), Kömür (Maier 46’), Mbuku (Okugawa 46’) – Cardona (Essende 46’), Kabadayi (Tietz 46’)

Goals: 1-0 Mbuku (24’), 2-0 Tietz (54’), 3-0 Okugawa (65’ (pen))