FCA beaten 2-1 by TS Galaxy

FCA rounded off their training camp in South Africa with their final match of the Mpumalanga Premier's International Cup. They came up against TS Galaxy at the latter’s home stadium. The South African side had finish sixth in their domestic top tier last season. Trailing 2-0 at the break, FCA cut the deficit after half time but still fell to a 2-1 defeat.

At the Mbombela Stadium, one of the host venues for the 2010 World Cup, FCA gave a first outing to their green away kit, which was unveiled with spectacular photos and videos from the Kruger National Park on Friday. For their second friendly in South Africa, Jess Thorup’s side were missing Finn Dahmen, who is still injured, and Irvin Cardona, who has suffered a knock. Steve Mounié, who has travelled to his home country of Benin for personal reasons, and Croatians Nediljko Labrović and Kristijan Jakić, who have been denied entry, were also unavailable.

Brass instruments and drums created a party atmosphere at the stadium. During the warm-up, TS Galaxy were welcomed onto the pitch by the sound of many South African drums. FCA CEO Michael Ströll accepted an offer from Galaxy owner Tim Sukazi and heartily joined in the chorus of drumming.

The game started more quietly on the pitch. The two teams cancelled each other out until TS Galaxy took the lead through Puso Dithejane with their first effort on Augsburg’s goal in the 19th minute. The second chance also fell to the South African side, when Qobolwakhe Sibande was denied in a one-on-one with FCA goalkeeper Daniel Klein. At the other end, a deflected effort from Arne Engels went just narrowly wide. In the 37th minute, TS Galaxy extended their lead to 2-0. Daniel Klein made an excellent save initially, but Samukele Kabini headed home the rebound.

FCA therefore went in 2-0 down at the break. TS Galaxy’s head coach, incidentally, is Stuttgart-born Sead Ramović, who played in goal for Stuttgarter Kickers, VfL Wolfsburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Kickers Offenbach among others.

Essende off the mark for the Fuggerstädter

Jess Thorup made three substitutions at half time. Henri Koudossou came on for Maxi Bauer, Niklas Dorsch for Tim Breithaupt and Fredrik Jensen for Elvis Rexhbecaj. FCA started the better, and their first chance hit the back of the net. New signing Samuel Essende was set up by Henri Koudossou to get his first goal for FCA and reduce the deficit to 2-1 (50’).

Wholesale changes followed in the 65th minute as Jess Thorup made seven substitutions. FCA then piled on the pressure as they searched for an equaliser. Mert Kömür had a great chance in the 77th minute when he was fed by Koudossou, but fired over. In the 82nd minute, Macbeth Mahlangu was shown the red card for a bad foul on Masaya Okugawa. Okugawa’s free kick was kept out by Galaxy netminder Wensten van der Linde (85’).

With a man advantage in the final phases, FCA piled on the pressure for an equaliser. Yusuf Kabadayi came close, but they failed to find that second goal. TS Galaxy therefore won the more than 60-centimetre-tall Mpumalanga Premier's International Cup trophy.

FCA: Klein, Pedersen (Giannoulis 65’), Gouweleeuw (Uduokhai 65’), Rexhbecaj (Jensen 46’), Maier (Kömür 65’), Breithaupt (Dorsch 46’), Tietz (Mbuku 65’), Bauer (Koudossou 46’), Engels (Okugawa 65’), Essende (Kabadayi 65’), Schlotterbeck (Pfeiffer 65’)

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