Highlights, report and reaction: AFC Wimbledon 2 Brentford 5 | OneFootball

Igor Thiago scored twice on his debut as Brentford began pre-season with a thumping 5-2 victory over AFC Wimbledon.

Joe Lewis gave the Dons a third-minute lead, but Thiago’s well-taken brace and Yoane Wissa’s penalty meant the Bees were in charge at the break. Kevin Schade and Bryan Mbeumo, two of 10 half-time changes made by head coach Thomas Frank, extended the visitors’ advantage, before Mat Stevens netted a late consolation.

Thiago marks debut with first-half double

Thiago, having completed his move from Club Brugge on 1 July, was selected to lead the line alongside Tony Yogane and Wissa. Goalkeeper Matt Cox started in goal against his former club.

Wimbledon took the lead in the third minute. Ji-soo Kim conceded a corner, which was whipped in by former Bee Jake Reeves, and Lewis rose highest to meet it with a thumping header.

The Dons had a chance to double their lead on 20 minutes but Hus Biler’s header, connecting with Alistair Smith’s cross at the back post, flew just over the crossbar.

Brentford were level three minutes later. Yunus Emre Konak played a short pass to Thiago inside the 18-yard box, whose initial effort was blocked by Lewis. The striker brought the ball back under his spell and had a second bite of the cherry at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, driving hard and low beyond Owen Goodman to the delight of the travelling Bees fans.

Moments after the restart, Ryan Johnson’s long-range effort, which deflected off the head of Ji-soo, was turned around the post by Cox at full stretch.

At the other end, Thiago found some space on Brentford’s right and backheeled into the path of Roerslev, and the full-back’s first-time effort was well held by Goodman.

The impressive Thiago scored a second just after the half-hour mark. After a long spell of possession, Fin Stevens spotted the Brazilian’s run and broke the lines with an inch-perfect through ball. Thiago pulled away, waited for Goodman to advance off his line and lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Stevens played creator again moments later, lifting the ball over the Dons’ defence, but Goodman – again racing out to narrow the angle – smothered Myles Peart-Harris’s effort.

Reeves’ long-range strike was held by Cox, before the Bees added a third in the final minute of the half. Wissa peeled in from the right to meet Vitaly Janelt’s lofted pass and positioned himself expertly to draw a foul inside the box from Biler. Wissa dusted himself down and rolled the ball into the bottom corner from the penalty spot.

Schade and Mbeumo extend Brentford’s advantage after the break; trialist Armstrong one of 10 half-time changes

Frank made 10 changes at half-time; goalkeeper Cox the only survivor from the first-half XI.

Midfielder Stuart Armstrong, on trial with the Bees following his departure from Southampton, was given a chance to impress.

On 56 minutes, Brentford worked the ball from back to front with impressive speed. Iwan Morgan dropped a shoulder to beat Lewis on his way into the box and lifted the ball narrowly over the bar.

Valdimarsson replaced Cox just after the hour mark, while Dons manager Johnnie Jackson also made several changes.

Brentford added a fourth goal on 66 minutes. Schade pounced on a loose pass, rounded goalkeeper Lewis Ward and scooped the ball into the far corner from a tight angle.

Mbeumo was next on the scoresheet, beating James Ball with a smart turn before firing into the roof of the next with his left foot.

Mat Stevens pulled one back for Wimbledon on 81 minutes, meeting James Tilley’s cross with a glancing header on the penalty spot that beat Valdimarsson.

AFC Wimbledon: Goodman (Ward HT), Ogundere (Tilley 62), Lewis (Stevens 62), Johnson (Pigott 62), Biler (Sutcliffe 62), Reeves (Maycock 62), Sasu (Trialist 62), Williams (Ball 62), Smith (Neufville 61), Bugiel (Hippolyte 63), Kelly (O’Toole 62)

Subs not used: Sidwell, Young, Jennings

Brentford first half: Cox; Roerslev, Ji-soo, Pinnock, Stevens; Konak, Janelt, Peart-Harris; Yogane, Thiago, Wissa

Brentford second half: Cox (Valdimarsson 61); Crama, Collins, Ajer, Fredrick; Armstrong, Owen, Onyeka; Mbeumo, Morgan, Schade

Subs not used: McManus, Holland

Frank happy with winning start

Head coach Thomas Frank was pleased with what he saw at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

“I’m happy with the performance and that’s always the most important thing,” said the Bees boss.

“Four of our main offensive players scored, which is very positive.”

On Igor Thiago’s two-goal debut, Frank added: “Positive experiences boost confidence and it’s always nice for a striker to score. There’s still a lot to go on, and he’ll of course need to do it in the Premier League, but it’s a good start.”

Schade discusses his goal in Wimbledon win

Kevin Schade admits he got a “bit lucky” with his goal in the victory over AFC Wimbledon - but the forward was happy with the Bees’ performance on Saturday afternoon.

Asked how he felt after the win, the German said: “I’m tired but it was good to get the first game in, even if it’s 45 minutes, after a long break.

“We aren’t happy with the goals we conceded, but to score five goals is good in the first game.”

Schade went on to explain the move for his goal: “I expected the pass back, I ran through, and then I got a bit lucky! But it was a good goal for me to score.

“I wanted to go round the goalkeeper but I expected him to block the shot, that’s why I wanted to chip it as soon as I got in the position. Maybe it was a bit lucky in the end!”