FC Augsburg
Sunderland
0
1
FCA edged out 1-0 by Sunderland on Family Day
15,231 fans at the WWK ARENA
First Team
09.08.2025, 17:31
FC Augsburg were narrowly beaten 1-0 by newly promoted Premier League side AFC Sunderland on Saturday afternoon. The 15,231 fans in the WWK ARENA saw an intense friendly in which both sides missed a penalty.
As in Friday’s 2-2 draw with Pisa, the Fuggerstädter wore their new “Roman Kit”, which proved a big hit with supporters. Head coach Sandro Wagner made sweeping changes to his starting XI, sending out a new-look side captained by Jeffrey Gouweleeuw.
The game began with a physical battle in midfield. FCA had the first half-chance of the afternoon when new signing Han-Noah Massengo tried his luck from distance, but without troubling the keeper (6’). Sunderland took the lead in the 14th minute – just as Gouweleeuw had returned to the pitch following treatment – when Habib Diarra unleashed a fierce strike from just over 20 yards into the top-left corner. Moments later, the visitors had the opportunity to double their lead from the penalty spot after Gouweleeuw was adjudged to have fouled Reinildo in the box, but Eliezer Mayenda fired over.
At the other end, FCA had the chance to level in the 27th minute after Mert Kömür was brought down in the area. Phillip Tietz stepped up but was denied by Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs. Despite enjoying more possession, Augsburg found it difficult to break down the visitors’ defence in the remainder of the first half. Just before the break, Finn Dahmen made a fine save to keep out Mayenda.
FCA unable to find an equaliser, Xhaka hits the bar
Wagner made his first change at half-time, introducing Robin Fellhauer for Dimitris Giannoulis. FCA started the second half with intent and created a double chance in the 52nd minute – Tietz’s header was kept out before Fellhauer’s follow-up was blocked in the box. Dahmen remained solid at the other end, saving from Chemsdine Talbi on 57 minutes.
The hosts’ best chance after the restart fell to Granit Xhaka, whose free-kick in the 67th minute rattled the crossbar. Despite pushing forward and adopting an increasingly attacking approach late on, FCA could not find a way past Sunderland’s well-drilled defence.
Attention now turns to competitive action, with the first round of the DFB-Pokal away to Hallescher FC on Sunday, 17th August (18:00 CEST).
FCA line-up: Dahmen – Massengo, Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Giannoulis (46' Fellhauer, 74' Banks), Jakić, Tietz (74' Essende), Saad (84' Dardari), Wolf, Schlotterbeck, Kömür
Goals: 0-1 Diarra (14')
