FCA win 2-1 in friendly against SpVgg Greuther Fürth

Game during the international break

FCA head coach Enrico Maaßen’s side made use of the free time provided by the international break to play a friendly against SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Thursday afternoon. Without their seven players selected for international duty (Beljo, Breithaupt, Demirovic, Engels, Koubek, Kömur, Vargas), the match ended 2-1 to FCA against their second-division opponents.

After the 2-2 draw against VfL Bochum last weekend, FCA head coach Enrico Maaßen requested a friendly against second-division side Greuther Fürth during the break from competitive action. The fixture would also offer a reunion with a familiar face now playing for Greuther Fürth: Simon Asta, who came through the academy at FCA, has been under contract at the second-division side since 2020. Summer arrival Kevin Mbabu, who played at right-back, made his first appearance in FCA colours.

There wasn’t a lot of action in the first 15 minutes of the game, which was played on the training pitch in front of the WWK ARENA. Both sides began cautiously with minor goalscoring opportunities. In the 16th minute of the game, a misplaced back-pass from Arne Maier fell to the visitors’ captain Branimir Hrgota, who countered and attacked the FCA box under no pressure whatsoever. Just in front of FCA goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, he spotted Dickson Abiama’s support run and squared it to his teammate. FCA fell 1-0 behind.
FCA bounced back immediately and didn’t lose their belief, which was rewarded by Phillip Tietz having a go from a cross inside the box three minutes later, completely unmarked. His shot just couldn’t quite find the back of the net, and was denied on the goal line by Fürth keeper Andreas Linde.

The game was an even affair in the following minutes, with Nathanael Mbuku’s attempt at an equaliser for FCA pushed over the bar by Linde (25’). Fürth also had their opportunities to double their advantage, but were denied by the FCA woodwork as Dennis Srbeny couldn’t find the goal after a cross into the 16-yard box (35’).
FC Augsburg had the last goalscoring opportunity of the first half, which saw new signing Tietz turning beautifully past his opponent in the penalty box, but he just couldn’t get his shot on target and it went narrowly wide of the right post (41’).

Tietz heads home the equaliser

FCA coach Maaßen made five changes for the second half and that helped to inject some life into his team. Tietz headed it home from an Arne Maier corner for the equaliser (51’) and the Fuggerstädter continued to control the game after this goal. Three minutes later, Fredrik Jensen let rip from 25 yards out and his rocket clipped the underside of the bar and hit the back of the net for Augsburg’s second of the day.

The flow of the match was disrupted by a number of fouls in the second half. FCA deservedly were in the lead and Mbuku could have made it 3-1 too. Cardona crossed from the right flank and the 21-year-old met it first time, however he couldn’t keep his shot down from close range (75’).

The game was played at a lower tempo in the closing stages. Fürth had the final clear-cut chance of the afternoon, with Abiama racing in behind the FCA defence and hammering the ball against the post, just like in the 35th minute.

FCA’s next game is a Bundesliga fixture away to RB Leipzig on Saturday, 16th September (15:30 CEST).

FCA: Dahmen (46’ Lubik) – Maier, Uduokhai (46’ Gouweleeuw), Tietz, Iago (46’ Čolina), Bauer (58’ Pfeiffer), Jensen, Dorsch (46’ Winther/64’ Zehnter), Mbuku, Mbabu (46’ Jensen), Cardona

Goals: 0-1 Abiama (16’), 1-1 Tietz (51’), 2-1 Jensen (54’)