FCA beaten by Greuther Fürth in friendly

During the international break, FC Augsburg played another regional friendly, taking on SpVgg Greuther Fürth in Schwabmünchen on Wednesday. The visitors proved more clinical overall, running out 2-1 winners in front of 2,301 spectators.

Without a dozen players away on international duty but with several youngsters from the academy involved, Sandro Wagner’s side lined up against the second-division outfit. The starting XI still featured some familiar names, including goalkeeper Nediljko Labrović, Cédric Zesiger, Arne Maier, Mads Pedersen, Phillip Tietz – who wore the captain’s armband – and the returning Yusuf Kabadayi.

FCA created their first chance as early as the third minute, when a Kabadayi cross found Tietz, who struck the crossbar. Fürth soon threatened at the other end, with Labrović making a sharp save in the 24th minute before Omar Sillah fired against the post.

Both sides showed plenty of commitment, though clear opportunities were limited. The crowd at the siegmund arena were repeatedly caught out by the unusually loud corner-kick signal. Just before the break, Labrović again denied Sillah (45+3’) to keep the score goalless going into half-time.

Fürth strike twice before Hofgärtner’s reply

Wagner made seven changes for the second half, which began at a lively pace. Hendrik Hofgärtner went close in the 50th minute, while former Augsburg player Juan Cabrera hit the woodwork two minutes later. Soon after, Fürth broke the deadlock as Sillah finished low into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the box (54’).

The visitors doubled their lead in the 62nd minute when Felix Higl curled a fine strike into the far corner. Augsburg, now fielding several U23 players, pulled one back in the 76th minute. A Pedersen cross found its way through to Hofgärtner, who slotted into the bottom-left corner to make it 2-1. Fürth could have extended their lead late on, missing two clear chances (89’, 90’), but the game ended with a narrow defeat for FCA.

Bildergalerie: FCA testet in Schwabmünchen

The next competitive fixture for FCA is away to FC St. Pauli on Sunday, 14th September (15:30 CEST).

FCA: Labrović (46' Klein) – Pedersen, Kabadayi (46' Dreo, 68’ Heinze), Maier, Zesiger, Tietz, Mühlbauer (46’ Hoops, 80’ Rasoulina), Meiser (46’ Lichtensteiger), Ruf (46’ Bleicher), Schnitzer (46’ Hofgärtner), Nana Motowilczuk (46’ Kresin, 79’ Stegmiller)

Goals: 0-1 Sillah (54’), 0-2 Higl (62’), 1-2 Hofgärtner (76’)

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