Deserved friendly win in Southampton

FC Augsburg ended their short stay in England in some style on Wednesday evening by thrashing Southampton 4-0. FCA dominated the game against the English top division side and fully deserved the victory. Head coach Manuel Baum deployed a totally different starting eleven to the one which was beaten 2-1 by Middlesbrough last Saturday. The Dane Pierre Emile Højbjerg was in the Southampton squad for the match. He played the second half of the 2014/15 season for FCA, on loan from Bayern München. He joined Southampton permanently in July 2016. The Premier League side started the match with some quick combination play and had two good chances in the opening five minutes, but Augsburg keeper Marwin Hitz was on top form. FCA then grew into the match and had chances of their own through Jonathan Schmid and Philipp Max. Michael Gregoritsch scores twice FCA found their feet in the match in the driving rain on the English south coast. However, shots from Michael Gregoritsch (28') and Alfred Finnbogason (30') didn't find the back of the net. It wasn't long before Augsburg took the lead, however, as Michael Gregoritsch scored a wonder goal from about 30 yards out, which Fraser Forster in the Southampton goal could do nothing about. Just minutes later the Austrian again showed his quality, this time netting with his head after a cross from Jonathan Schmid. FCA were quieter immediately after half-time, but continued to give an assured defensive performance. The Germans also put the opposition under pressure with rapid counter attacks. Augsburg deserved their 3-0 lead when substitute Erik Thommy found Ja-Cheol Koo with a free-kick in the 67th minute. The Korean netted with his head. There was little meaningful response from the English hosts and Augsburg continued to control possession as the game wore on. Youngster Raphael Framberger put the icing on the cake late on when he finished from just inside the box to make it 4-0 to FCA.