Goals from Joni Kauko and Niko Gießelmann were the only goals of the game but it was Patric Klandt who stole the headlines making numerous magnificent saves.

The opening minutes of the game were quiet, neither side could test each other.

But the first chance came after eight minutes for the hosts FSV Frankfurt, Vincenzo Grifo’s quick thinking from a free kick picked out Joan Oumari who turned on a six-pence but he scuffed his shot and his effort and it sailed high and wide.

Furth also had a chance of their own, Marco Stiepermann done brilliantly jinking past two Frankfurt players, but as he took it onto his left foot, he lashed at the shot which sent his shot waywardly off-target.

Just after twenty minutes, the break-through came for Frankfurt, Joni Kauko who had a free header met a brilliant floated delivery and he headed straight at Wolfgang Hesi but he got a weak hand onto the shot and the ball trickled over the line.

Furth were getting desperate, Freis held off the tackle of two Frankfurt defenders in the Frankfurt eighteen-yard box and went down too easily in the referee’s eyes and booked Freis for simulation.

Furth’s best chance of the game came just after half an hour, the visitors played some magnificent build up, Zulj outside of the foot pass to Przybylko who under some tough Frankfurt pressure got his snap shot off but he was superbly denied by Patric Klandt.

Frankfurt exchanged some pressure of their own, Konrad burst onto his right foot unleashed a thunderous strike but his shot only whistled over the ball nearly leaving Hesi red-faced once again. Minutes later, Frankfurt had another chance through their 30-year old striker Zlatko Dedic, in the move, his first touch was exquisite, driving into the box onto his left foot but his shot was straight at Hesi who got enough of his body behind the ball and held the Slovenian’s shot.

Five minutes before Furth had a free kick in dangerous position, Trinks’ stepped up and bent his shot goalwards but it was too far out to get enough bend and power on his effort and Klandt held the ball.

An incisive counter attack from Frankfurt was led by Dedic who held up play, he used his tricky footwork beat the defender as he cut in onto his right foot but he scuffed his effort and the ball trickled into Hesi’s grasp.

FSV Frankfurt lead at half time thanks to Joni Kauko’s twentieth minute header.

The first five minutes of the second period were action-less and it was Greuther Furth who had the opening chance. Robert Zulj met Florian Trinks delivery but he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Minutes before the hour mar, Furth equalised, it was the old nuisance for goalkeepers. Niko Gießelmann had a free kick on the far side and his swinging left footed delivery floated right the way past the defence and the attackers, no Furth got a touch on it and the ball crept through the grasp of Klandt, to make it 1-1 in Frankfurt. Zulj and Stiepermann linked up, Stiepermann’s left footed effort came close but it was curling away from Klandt’s goal. Furth kept pressing for the all important third goal and it was Klandt who saved the day, Florian Trinks found Robert Zulj with his headed pass, Zulj chested it down and volleyed but Klandt denied his strike brilliantly.

At the other end of the pitch, Frankfurt had three chances to net their second goal. After a long ball, Dedic was through on goal and Hesi came charging out but Dedic got there first but he took it past Hesi but couldn’t get it on target, a cross was delivered to Grifo, his header Hesi who pushed it skyward and he caught the ball at the second attempt.

With just ten minutes to play a long diagonal ball was played to Edmon Kapllani who brilliantly brought the ball down and turned and curled his shot goalwards but it could only graze the roof of the net on its way past goal.

Furth had a great chance in the final moments, Stephan Schrock saw his shot well-saved by Klandt to deny Greuther Furth a chance to bag a good three away points.

The game finished on a sour note as Frankfurt’s Edmond Kapllani was sent for a bath in the ninety-first minute for a straight red offence as the game simmered down and finished 1-1.

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