Despite taking a late first-half lead, Duisburg just couldn't hang on for three points against a sluggish SC Freiburg side.
Ilia Gruev, after taking over just a few days ago, made three changes from the side that lost out to 1860 Munich last weekend. Thomas Bröker, Thomas Meißner and Kingsley Onuegbu came into the team for Steffan Bohl, Giorgi Chanturia and Stanislav Iljutcenko, who were all benched. Freiburg and Christian Streich made just one alteration, as Karim Guedé started ahead of Mensur Mujdza.
Bröker gives his side an unlikely lead
The visitors, unsurprisingly, began strongest and were unlucky not to be ahead in the opening exchanges. Michael Ratajczak was on top form early on, as he denied both Guede and Nils Petersen's volleyed efforts. The former, especially, was a good stop given that the ball flew through a throng of bodies.
Freiburg came closer still midway through the half, cursing their luck when Maximilian Philipp rattled the post. The attacker beat two Duisburg defenders with stepovers before he took aim from outside the area. The shot was tipped onto the post by Ratajzcak, though he was lucky not to see it find the back of the net.
Eventually the home side began to come forward themselves and Kevin Wolze struck a powerful shot that skimmed the top of the bar. It did look like the sides would go in level at the break, but Bröker had other ideas. A cross was flicked up high into the air at the back post and, after what seemed like an eternity, the ball came down onto Bröker's right foot and flew into the far corner. Alexander Schwolow was helpless, and the Duisburg fans could hardly believe their eyes.
Abrashi earns a point, but Freiburg can't quite snatch three
Duisburg held onto that lead through to half time and afterwards, as it suddenly looked more likely that a massive shock was on the cards. Victor Obinna had a shot saved by Schwolow before Kevin Scheidheuer headed just past the post. The hosts were made to rue the missed chances, however, as Freiburg levelled on the hour mark.
A wonderful finish from the unlikely source of Amir Abrashi restored parity. The defensive midfielder is not known for scoring goals whatsoever, but his curling effort from the left-hand side of the box managed to find the inside of the side netting and nestle in the bottom corner.
It seemed set up for Freiburg to push on in search of a winner, but another Scheidhauer header came closest to adding the third goal of the game. The latter stages saw Thomas Meißner pick up a late second yellow card and was sent off as a result, but still Duisburg held on for a draw and an invaluable point.