A goal from new-signing Abdelhamid Sabiri and two from Laurent Depoitre guided Town to a 3-0 win over Altona 93 in an international break friendly.
Huddersfield Town travelled to the West of Hamburg to face fourth tier German side, Altona 93 for a friendly during the international break.
David Wagner made ten changes to his starting line-up with Christopher Schindler the only survivor from the side that drew 0-0 with Southampton in the last Premier League match. New signings Abdelhamid Sabiri and Florent Hadergjonaj were handed their first starts for Town.
The game began and Town nearly went a goal up inside the first 3 minutes as inswinging corner from Joe Lolley on the right was met by the head of Michael Hefele, but he put his chance just over the crossbar.
Town got the opening goal just a minute later as some neat play on the left saw new-boy Abdelhamid Sabiri thread an exquisite reverse through-ball straight through the heart of the Altona defence. Laurent Depoitre latched onto the through-ball and on his left foot slotted the ball past Grundman in the Altona net for his first goal of the season.
The host had a great chance to get back into the game as they were awarded a free-kick on the right, 25-yards from goal. Brisevac - who had scored a free-kick against West Ham in their pre-season game – stepped up but curled his shot wide of the near post.
Laurent Depoitre had a great chance to grab his second as another dangerous set-piece from Joe Lolley was swung in, but the striker couldn’t get his header on target as the shot went wide of the post.
The host had a goal disallowed on the half-hour mark as some neat play on the left saw the ball find Brisevac on the edge of the area. His first time effort struck the base of the post as Schultz followed in and converted the rebound; but the goal was disallowed as the Altona forward was in an offside position.
A clever ball down the line from Town full-back, Scott Malone found new-boy Abdelhamid Sabiri in space wide on the left. Sabiri duly cut inside and pulled the ball back to Joe Lolley who struck the ball first time from just outside the area, but his effort was straight at the ‘keeper.
Dean Whitehead had a rare strike on goal as the ball ricocheted out to him on the edge of the area following a Town corner. On the half-volley Whiteheads’ powerful bouncing strike on goal could only be blocked by the keeper, as Altona were able to get the ball clear of their goal.
Joel Coleman made a terrific save on the stroke of half-time to deny Brisevac, as the Altona forward powered his right-footed strike towards goal, but his effort fund a strong hand from Joel Coleman in the Town goal to retain Town’s goal advantage.
Town then made two half-time changes introducing Rob Green and Regan Booty in place of Joel Coleman and Christopher Schindler.
The second half began with a ‘friendly’ feel about it seeing little noteworthy action up until the 58th minute were Town grabbed their second goal. Some neat play in the centre saw Collin Quaner pick out Florent Hadergjonaj in space on the right and bursting down the flank he drilled his cross into the box. The cross landed perfectly at the feet of Abdelhamid Sabiri who controlled the ball, dribbled past his man and fired Town into a two-goal lead.
Hadergjonaj was causing real problems for the host down the right flank as Town nearly got their third. The new-recruit burst down the right flank and delivered a cross that landed perfectly in the stride of Joe Lolley. The Town midfielder volleyed the ball at goal but his strike was straight at the goalkeeper.
Town then rotated its squad making four changes introducing Chris Löwe, Tommy Smith, Rajiv van La Parra & Tom Ince in place of Scott Malone, Florent Hadergjonaj, Collin Quaner and Joe Lolley.
Laurent Depoitre then grabbed his second and Town’s third of the afternoon. Abdelhamid Sabiri moved the ball onto his left foot and drew an excellent save from the Altona keeper, the ball then bounced up and Laurent Depoitre duly converted the rebound with an emphatic overhead kick.
Town’s starting line-up (4-2-3-1):
Joel Coleman (Robert Green, 45’); Scott Malone (Chris Löwe, 75’), Christopher Schindler (Regan Booty, 45’), Michael Hefele, Florent Hadergjonaj (Tommy Smith,75’); Dean Whitehead, Danny Williams; Joe Lolley (Rajiv Van la Parra, 75’), Abdelhamid Sabiri, Collin Quaner (Tom Ince, 75’); Laurent Depoitre
Unused subs:
Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Lewis O’Brien
