Bundesliga: Greuther Fürth and Frankfurt miss victories

Arminia Bielefeld missed the great opportunity to leave the relegation zone for the first time in four months. The East Westphalians only managed a disappointing 2:2 (1:1) against the bottom of the table Greuther Fürth – which, however, does not help the Franconians significantly. Masaya Okugawa (8th minute), who struck in their fourth straight league game, gave the hosts the lead, who were poised for their third win in four games. Ultimately, Arminia had to be happy about the late equalizer from a long-range shot by Joker Gonzalo Castro (83rd). Fürth missed the second win of the season, which would have been necessary to stay in the race. The relegation place that Bielefeld now occupies is eleven points away.

Under-21 international Jamie Leweling (35′) and Havard Nielsen (67′), who came on as a substitute 28 seconds earlier, scored for the visitors. Bielefeld had previously assumed the unusual role of favourites: the nimble Japanese Okugawa, Bielefeld’s best for weeks, moved into the penalty area with the ball at his foot, was not consistently attacked by two players from Fürth and scored from a complicated angle in front of 750 spectators. The defensively strong Arminen were able to let the opponent, who had arrived without any away points, come.

Fürth tried as usual, alone: ​​Little happened in front of Stefan Ortega’s goal. Bielefeld, in turn, countered pleasantly, but Patrick Wimmer (23rd) and Florian Krüger (33rd) set their goals a little too high. Without any need, Bielefeld conceded the equalizer in the 35th minute. After a deep ball win from Fürth, Leweling was alone against two Armins, shook off Andres Andrade in a running duel and overcame Ortega with a well-placed shot. As expected, the game was not a treat, but after the equalization it was completely open. Fürth’s Timothy Tillman forced Ortega to do a brilliant job with a direct free kick (53′). The importance of the game was reflected in the emotionality of the players – on the pitch and on the bench.

Eintracht takes a chance: Daichi Kamada (left) scores against FC Augsburg.

(Photo: Jan Huebner /imago)

Eintracht Frankfurt had previously missed the desired away win at FC Augsburg without the key players Kevin Trapp and Filip Kostic. In an intense Bundesliga duel, the two opponents, who started the football year with a defeat, drew 1-1 (1-1) on Sunday in Augsburg. Daichi Kamada (22nd minute) with the lead for Frankfurt and Michael Gregoritsch (38th) with the equalizer for FCA each punished individual mistakes.

Goalkeeper Trapp and winger Kostic had to miss the game due to corona infections. FC Augsburg overtakes VfB Stuttgart in the table by winning a point and is now fifteenth. Frankfurt remains in eighth place.

In a hard-fought game, both teams neutralized each other in the early stages. After a bad pass from Augsburg’s midfielder Niklas Dorsch, the ball came to Kamada via Jesper Lindström and Rafael Borré. The Japanese finished with his technically adept goal to take the lead. The game might have gone in a different direction if Lindstrom had increased to 2-0. After an outstanding pass from Djibril Sow, the Dane did almost everything right – until his shot on goal landed on the outside of the post (29th).

There is a scare moment in the second half after the clash between Kamada and Oxford

After an interruption due to video evidence – Augsburg’s Andi Zeqiri had fouled Eintracht defense chief Makoto Hasebe and then made a record purchase for FCA Ricardo Pepi – the Frankfurt game was broken. The hosts punished this with Gregoritsch. The Austrian, who scored a week ago in Hoffenheim’s 1-3 draw, outwitted Eintracht keeper Diant Ramaj with his goal into the near corner from a tight angle. The 20-year-old probably expected a cross in his first competitive adult game. Trapp’s absence was particularly painful, although Ramaj had some good scenes overall.

It was emotional just before the break when Augsburg demanded a hand penalty. But referee Sven Jablonski, after consulting the video assistant and looking at the pictures on TV, decided that it was not a punishable handball. After the change of sides, Pepi sniffed the lead when he made his debut in the starting XI, but Ramaj parried (46′). At the other end, Lindström tested FCA goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz with a free kick (53′).

The guests acted more maturely from the game system, Augsburg tried to succeed after a quick changeover. There was a moment of shock for both teams after Kamada and Reece Oxford smashed together in a dogfight. But both were able to continue. In the final phase, Lindström failed with a great chance at the brilliant parrying Augsburg goalkeeper Gikiewicz (88th). Substitute Florian Niederlechner missed the 2-1 for Augsburg in stoppage time when he failed to beat Ramaj

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