FCA beat Swabian XI in first pre-season friendly

FC Augsburg won their first friendly of pre-season ahead of the new Bundesliga campaign. Manuel Baum’s side ran out 5-0 winners against a Swabian XI in front of 2,506 spectators.

The Bavarian Football Association selected part of the Swabian XI, while five players were chosen in a vote by readers of the Augsburger Allgemeine. Former FCA players Sascha Mölders and Zdenko Miletic took charge of the team.

Manuel Baum fielded two mixed sides, with each playing one half. Academy products Florian Hangl, Tim Schnitzer, Franz Xaver Bleicher, Ben Exner and Milo Adleff were also given minutes. FCA also wore their new home kit for the first time.

The Swabian XI, made up largely of players from the sixth to fourth tiers, made a bright start to the game. Leonard Kasper had a chance to put them ahead inside the opening minute, but new signing Tom Wisbereit denied him in the Augsburg goal. Noahkai Banks then made a vital intervention to stop Sebastian Kempf in the 15th minute. Instead, it was Thomas Kastanaras who gave FCA the lead shortly afterwards, finishing off a fine move involving Jeffrey Gouweleeuw to make it 1-0 (18’).

Kastanaras at the double

FCA continued to have the upper hand, but Sascha Mölders’ side were undeterred and kept looking to pose a threat going forward. It was Kastanaras who struck again, however, turning home Robin Fellhauer’s cross to make it 2-0 (36’). Shortly before half time, Matthias Jocham tried his luck from distance after Augsburg had lost possession in midfield. Wisbereit had strayed well off his line, but managed to tip the effort round the post (45’).

Manuel Baum changed his entire side for the second half in order to give as many players as possible some match practice. The pattern of the game remained much the same, with FCA dominating proceedings while the Swabian XI continued to put up a fight and looked to threaten on the occasional counter.

Schlotterbeck scores before penalty miss

It took until the 73rd minute for FCA to find the net again. Ribeiro latched onto a through ball from new signing Hennes Behrens and finished clinically to make it 3-0. A minute later, the Portuguese almost added a fourth, but his header flew narrowly over the bar.

There was still plenty of action to come in the closing stages. Keven Schlotterbeck first headed home a Behrens corner to make it 4-0 (83’) before stepping up to take a penalty a few minutes later after Ribeiro had been fouled. Felix Unger came out on top, however, saving Schlotterbeck’s spot kick (86’). The goalkeeper was powerless to prevent the fifth, though, as Marius Wolf’s attempted lob took a deflection into the net shortly before the final whistle (89’).

FCA’s next friendly takes place on Saturday, 25th July (14:00 CEST), when Baum’s side face third-tier outfit 1. FC Saarbrücken in Kaufbeuren.

FCA (first half): Wisbereit – Brackelmann, Gouweleeuw, Suso, Keitel, Fellhauer, Claude-Maurice, Kastanaras, Kömür, Banks, Hangl.

FCA (second half): Labrović – Massengo, Matsima, Ribeiro, Behrens, Sakar, Wolf, Kade, Schlotterbeck, Schnitzer (83. Exner), Bleicher (83. Adleff).

Goals: 1-0 Kastanaras (18'), 2-0 Kastanaras (36'), 3-0 Ribeiro (73'), 4-0 Schlotterbeck (80'), 5-0 Wolf (89')

Missed penalty: Schlotterbeck (86’).

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