SCR Altach 1-1 Southampton: Che Adams scores in first Saints outing

Southampton’s first friendly of their 2019/20 pre-season schedule ended in a 1-1 draw against SCR Altach.

Saints and summer signing Che Adams made the dream start when the 22-year-old opened the scoring after just two minutes.

However, home attacker Manfred Fischer levelled the match with a superbly taken goal midway through the first-half, and that is how the match stayed despite numerous other chances for both sides.

Saints fans would have been wondering whether Ralph Hasenhuttl would go with his preferred 4-2-2-2 system in the 2019/20 season.

That remains to be seen long-term, but the Austrian went with that formation here.

Alex McCarthy started in goal behind a back-four of Yan Valery, Maya Yoshida, Jannik Vestergaard and Ryan Bertrand.

A central pairing of Oriol Romeu and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg were complimented by Mohamed Elyounoussi and Josh Sims on the flanks, whilst Shane Long and new man Che Adams began in attack.

Most of the talk ahead of Saints’ opening pre-season game had been about Adams’ first outing in a red and white shirt, and he would have the perfect start for his new side within two minutes.

The ball rolled across the £16m man in the area and allowed him to plant a calm finish into the far corner on the spin.

It was a rapid start by Saints in a clash with opposition who were much further ahead of them in their preparations for the upcoming campaign. SCR Altach begin their domestic season this coming Saturday and they drew level after 26 minutes.

Midfielder Manfred Fischer – who had also found the net in a narrow 3-2 loss to West Ham on Thursday – collected the ball just outside the area and whipped a superb strike inside Alex McCarthy’s near post.

Saints were forced to see out some pressure from the hosts, and McCarthy had to see off further efforts from Emir Karic and Samuel Oum Gouet.

However, as they broke down the other end and moved the ball onto Adams once again, he almost doubled his tally for the afternoon when pushing the ball wide, creating an angle and striking the post with a clever effort.

Shortly after, a carbon copy of that chance came again for the 22-year-old. This time he beat home keeper Martin Kobras before seeing his shot cleared well off the line by a defender.

11 changes were made by Saints at half-time after a testing first period.

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Fraser Forster, Cedric, Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek and Jake Vokins came into goal and defence, whilst Will Smallbone, James Ward-Prowse, Nathan Redmond, Michael Obafemi, Dan N’Lundulu and Danny Ings made up the six in front of them.

Whereas the first-half had a fast tempo and had seen numerous chances for both sides, the second was rather less eventful under the hour mark was reached.

Redmond shot wide with his left foot after lining up his man before Ward-Prowse bent a bouncing free-kick past the far post from the right side of the area.

One man who had particularly impressed for Altach was 18-year-old central-midfielder Ousmane Diakite, who is on-loan from Red Bull Salzburg. After an all action display, Saints perhaps breathed a sigh of relief when he was withdrawn after 71 minutes.

Some bright bursts on the ball came from Saints sub N’Lundulu in the latter stages but the game would end 1-1.

Ralph Hasenhuttl and his side now finish up in Austria and head back home to England to face Preston North End next weekend.

Saints team first-half

Goalkeeper: Alex McCarthy

Defenders: Yan Valery, Maya Yoshida, Jannik Vestergaard, Ryan Bertrand

Midfielders: Oriol Romeu, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Josh Sims

Strikers: Shane Long, Che Adams

Saints team second-half

Goalkeeper: Fraser Forster

Defenders: Cedric Soares, Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Jake Vokins

Midfielders: Will Smallbone, James Ward-Prowse, Nathan Redmond, Michael Obafemi

Strikers: Dan N’Lundulu, Danny Ings

SCR Altach team

Martin Kobras, Anderson (Philipp Schmeidl 46 (Lars Nussbaumer 83)), Jan Zwischenbrugger, Philipp Netzer (Aljaz Casar 78), Emir Karic, Samuel Oum Gouet, Ousmane Diakite (Florian Jamnig 71), Marco Meilinger, Emanuel Schreiner, Christian Gebauer, Manfred Fischer