Tuta’s own goal gave the visitors the lead after 15 minutes, with Patrick Sontheimer’s low drive doubling the Bundesliga 2 side’s advantage on the hour mark. Sontheimer finished off a fine Würzburg move to extend their lead on 71 minutes, and SGE were denied a consolation as Jabez Makanda’s late penalty was saved by Kickers’ goalkeeper Fabian Giefer.
Team news: New signings in the starting line-up
Adi Hütter handed starts to recent signings Markus Schubert, Ajdin Hrustic and Amin Younes against the second-tier outfit. Youngsters Yannick Brugger and Makanda were also included in the Eagles’ starting XI, with Bas Dost and David Abraham both rested.
First half: Visitors strike first
Hrustic and Younes almost combined to give Hütter’s charges the perfect start to the match, but the former Ajax and Napoli man failed to connect properly with the Australian’s low cross. The Eagles were made to rue that miss when Tuta accidentally diverted the ball past Schubert after the Schalke loanee had failed to clear a corner.
Ridge Munsy and David Kopacz both squandered good opportunities as Würzburg began to grow in confidence, while at the other end, Dominik Kohr’s powerful shot was parried by Giefer four minutes before half-time.
Second half: Makanda thwarted from the spot
Schubert was replaced at half-time by 18-year-old goalkeeper Elias Bördner, who produced a fine save to prevent Kopacz from doubling Würzburg’s lead five minutes into the second half. However, the teenager was powerless to stop Sontheimer from giving the visitors a two-goal cushion on the hour mark.
Sontheimer was again on hand to drill home Mitja Lotric’s low cross to make it 3-0 with 19 minutes remaining, before Makanda’s penalty was kept out by Giefer on a disappointing afternoon for Hütter and his players.
SGE line-up
Schubert (Bördner 46’) - Tuta, Brugger, Touré (Fahrnberger 62’) - Chandler, Durm, Kohr, da Costa - Hrustic, Younes - Makanda
Goals
0-1 Tuta (15’ og)
0-2 Sontheimer (60’)
0-3 Sontheimer (71’)
