FC Augsburg enjoyed a successful start to the new season by beating fourth-tier side Blau-Weiß Lohne in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. Three substitutes all got on the scoresheet after a goalless first 45 minutes.

This game was Enrico Maaßen’s first competitive match in charge of the club. New signings Elvis Rexhbecaj, Ermedin Demirović and Maximilian Bauer all made their debuts for the club as they started the game. Mads Pedersen was ruled out at short notice with a knee injury.

Lohne began positively and had a shot fly over the bar from Sandro Heskamp after just four minutes. FCA’s first effort was by André Hahn, who headed over from an Arne Maier corner (18’).

The home side looked to have come close to scoring when Jakub Bürkle chipped it over Gikiewicz and onto the post, though the flag was raised for offside (19’). The Fuggerstädter then also hit the woodwork. Daniel Caligiuri flicked on a Maier corner and Lohne’s Aaron Goldmann deflected the ball onto his own post (31’). The first half therefore ended goalless.

Clever finish from Maier, Niederlechner back-heel

FCA came out of the traps quickly in the second half and quickly found a goal. Arne Maier cleverly struck his free-kick round the wall instead of crossing it from around 25 yards out and caught the goalkeeper out at his near post (51’). Rexhbecaj wasn’t far away from a debut goal, heading just inches past the post three minutes later. 

Lohne tried their best to get an equaliser, though FCA were now clearly on top. Florian Niederlechner and Fredrik Jensen combined for the second goal after both coming off the bench. Jeffrey Gouweleeuw passed it forwards to Niederlechner, who back-heeled it on to Jensen and he rounded the goalkeeper to score (69’). Both players were then involved in the third goal. Jensen squared it to Niederlechner for a simple finish.

FCA added a fourth goal just before the end. Another substitute, Maurice Malone, was the goalscorer. He scored with his first touch after Christian Düker inadvertently headed the ball to him. That was the final goal in front of 4,000 fans at the Heinz-Dettmer-Stadion.

The draw for the second round will be made in September. FCA will begin their new Bundesliga season next Saturday (6th August) at home to SC Freiburg at 15:30 CEST.

FCA: Gikiewicz – Bauer, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai – Caligiuri, Rexhbecaj (61’ Niederlechner), Gruezo, Iago (87’ Zehnter) – Maier (87’ Malone) – Hahn (76’), Demirović (61’ Jensen)

Goals: 0-1 Maier (51’), 0-2 Jensen (69’), 0-3 Niederlechner (81’), 0-4 Malone (89’)    

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