MSV Duisburg looked to have finally claimed their first three points of the season, but Marco Stiepermann struck late to rescue a point for Greuther Fürth.
The Zebras fell to yet another defeat last weekend, with Karlsruher SC picking up three points against Gino Lettieri's men. He knew he needed results, and made plenty of changes to try and achieve just that. Dustin Bomheuer, Dennis Grote, Nico Klotz and Kingsley Onuegbu all dropped out after the disappointing loss, allowing Thomas Meißner, Steffen Bohl, Simon Brandstetter and Kevin Scheidhauer moving in to the starting eleven.
There was a similar pressure on the Shamrocks, who had started well but were beginning to fade away quickly. Stefan Ruthebeck needed to buck the trend, so had no hesitation in replacing those who weren't performing. Johannes Wurtz, Stefan Thesker and Robert Zulj were the casualties from the defeat to FSV Frankfurt, with Stephan Schröck, Niko Gießelmann and Tom Weilandt taking their places.
Disaster struck early on for the home side as Brandstetter picked up a fairly serious injury from an equally innocuous challenge. In his attempts to close down Gießelmann, he slipped and looked to be in severe pain in regards to his knee; he was immediately replaced by Stanislav Iljutchenko.
While both sides were struggling to unlock each other's defence, there were plenty of corners for them to attack. Some strong defending, however, meant that the teams were coping well. Sebastian Freis finally managed to get an effort on goal soon after, only to be denied by Michael Ratajczak.
Both teams hit the bar before Duisburg go in front
The best chance of the game fell to the hosts and they were desperately unlucky not to take the lead. Martin Dausch line-up a free-kick from 25 yards and curled it up and over the wall, only to see the ball come back off the bar with Sebastian Mielitz well-beaten. Lettieri could only shake his head in disbelief.
Fürth responded immediately and could count themselves equally unfortunate not to have a goal to their name. Marco Stiepermann's curling effort looked destined for the top corner, though it just didn't have enough dip to creep under the bar and the ball cannoned back out again.
However, one side would go into half-time with a lead and, much to the relief of the home faithful, it was Duisburg who opened the scoring. Rolf Feltscher started and finished the move, playing a neat one-two with Iljutchenko before seeing his initial effort saved. He was quickest to the rebound and securing a slender lead at half-time. They did have Ratajczak for a spectacular save from Jurgen Gjasula's free-kick, though.
Fürth fight back
Gjasula didn't have to wait long for another opportunity as he was brought down inside the area by Dausch; a tangle of legs was enough to send him tumbling to the ground. The midfielder dusted himself down and steadied himself before sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and bringing the vistiors, deservedly, back level.
They had turned the game on its head and could have been ahead just moments later. Stiepermann, for the second time in the game, rattled the post from distance as his free-kick was denied only be the upright. The ball fell kindly to Freis on the rebound but couldn't react quickly enough to turn the ball on target, with the post coming to Duisburg's rescue once more.
Bohl looks to have won it, but Stiepermann saves the Shamrocks
Both sides were pushing for a winner and both had their chances, though none were as clear cut as Steffen Bohl's. Feltscher turned from scorer to provider, whipping in an excellent delivery towards the back post. The veteran used all his experience to steam in unnoticed and direct the ball back from where it came, nestling in the far corner.
Just as it looked like Duisburg had finally broken their duck, Stiepermann stepped up and saved his side from defeat. He turned and volleyed home with the last meaningful kick of the game, with Ratajczak unable to keep it out. The hosts were heart-broken but to the visitors this felt like a victory.