Fürth friendly ends in draw

FC Augsburg played a friendly behind closed doors on Thursday afternoon with second division Greuther Fürth. The game finished 1-1 with Alfred Finnbogason finding the back of the net for FCA. Coach Manuel Baum was without six players for the match thanks to the international break, meaning several youth and reserve team players were given a chance to shine. Alfred Finnbogason returned to the starting eleven for the first time after six months out on the sidelines. The German Football Association used the game to test out video refereeing technology for next season, whereby a referee can use a replay of certain events to support him in his decisions on the field. Halil Altintop created the first chance of the game for the hosts but it was the visitors who took the lead after less than 10 minutes when Daniel Steininger’s shot came back off the post and fell kindly for Serdar Dursun to put Fürth into the lead. Augsburg responded, and leveled less than ten minutes later. Paul Verhaegh picked up the ball on the edge of the opposing penalty area and set up Alfred Finnbogasen, who showed he had not lost any of his goalscoring touch during his layoff by slotting to ball home and drawing the two teams level. The technology was called into action for the first time just before the half hour when Jonathan Scherzer tripped Steininger in the area. The referee originally pointed for a penalty, but after reviewing the footage decided to award a free kick as the foul had taken place outside the box. FCA continued to create chances after the break. Substitute Marco Richter - one of six to be introduced for the second half - fired just over from the edge of the area. Manuel Baum’s side had the upper hand but could not find the winner as the clock ticked down. Altintop tried a speculative effort from the half way line after Fürth keeper Sascha Burchet was forced from his goal, but he was just off target. The game petered out and neither side offered much going forward in the closing stages, and the spoils were shared.

Unsere FCA-APP

Jetzt herunterladen!