Arminia Bielefeld squandered a two-goal lead to pass up their first three points of the season. MSV Duisburg fought back, aided by a man advantage, to finally get their campaign up and running.
Duisburg's stuttering start continued last weekend with a 5-0 DFB-Pokal drubbing at the hands of Schalke 04. Gino Lettieri made just two changes to the side, keeping faith in the majority of players who earned them promotion last year. Dennis Grote and Steffan Bohl dropped out and were replaced by Tim Albutat and Martin Dausch.
For Norbert Meier and Bielefeld, the season had began in similar fashion. They were also dumped out of the cup, this time by Hertha BSC, but were yet to concede or lose in the league. Julian Börner and Dennis Mast were not in the starting line-up this time around, with Brian Berhendt and Christopher Nöthe taking their respective places.
Fantastic start for Bielefeld
Meier's decision to go with two centre-forwards, due to Nöthe's introduction, paid dividends immediately. Christian Müller picked the ball up in midfield and immediately spotted the run of the former St. Pauli forward. His lobbed pass was weighted perfectly and was headed up and over the stranded Michael Ratajczak. An inventive finish from Nöthe was just what the visitors needed, notching up their first goal after over three games without one.
That was just the start of Bielefeld's dominance, as Müller's play continued to cause Duisburg problems. He had two further opportunities but they were easily held by Ratajczak. While those two stops were routine, the Zebras' custodian made a spectacular save from Sebastian Schuppan's header. The defensive frailties were there for all to see and the visitors took full advantage moments later.
After Fabian Klos had been taken down 25 yards out, Ratajczak was meticulous in lining up his wall. Unfortunately for him, the wall shifted after a dummy run and Florian Dick's daisy cutter went through the gap that appeared. The goalkeeper was flat-footed and furious, as were most of the home crowd. It could have got even worse but for their 'keeper, who did well to thwart Müller once more.
Once again, for the third game of of four this season, Duisburg made a change before half-time. Kingsley Onuegbu came in for Albutat as the level of desperation to get back into the clash rose that little bit more. He had little impact in the run up to the break, and the home fans made their displeasure known to their players with a barrage of whistles as the marched down the tunnel.
The tide begins to turn in the second half
There was to be another alteration for the hosts during the break and Nico Klotz came on for Simon Brandstetter, in a bid to try and resurrect any chances they had in the game. The second period represented some progress for Duisburg who were finally beginning to threaten Wolfgang Hesl's goal, albeit from distance.
The tide seemed to be turning in their favour, too, as Brian Behrendt picked up a second booking in just six minutes to hand Duisburg a way back into the game. He hauled down Onuegbu on the half-way line and his tackle, which would have been more appropriate to a rugby match, saw him head for an early bath. Felix Burmeister came on in order to fill the vacant centre-half spot.
Duisburg make their man advantage pay off
Their persistence paid off with 20 minutes to play, and eventually showed the style that helped them earn a return to the division. Kevin Wolze chipped the ball in Onuegbu, who showed fantastic control and awareness to bring the ball down and swivel to hit it. He unleashed a magnificent volley that screamed past Hesl, finding the corner and giving the hosts renewed hope.
Bielefeld were rocking and the Zebras made them pay for some lacklustre defending. Wolze provided the assist once more, delivering a fantastic ball towards the back post. Duisburg had overloaded and Schuppan was unable to prevent Stanislav Iljutchenko from steaming in and nutmegging Hesl with a header.
There was to be one final chance for the visitors, only to see Klos' header stopped on the line by Ratajczak. The game ended level, a fair reflection on both halves and a point the two teams will be happy with given how the game started and ended. Duisburg travel to Karlsruher SC next weekend, while Bielefeld play host to Eintracht Braunschweig on Saturday.