FC Erzgebirge Aue squanders lead and drops important points

FC Erzgebirge Aue squandered a 2-0 lead to drop vital points on their way to climbing even closer to the promotion places. The third-division soccer team drew 2:2 (2:1) at Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday. At the Schüco Arena, Tim Danhof (18th) and Marcel Bär (40th) scored for Aue and Nicklas Shipnoski (45th +1) and Kaito Mizuta (75th) for Arminia.

The first half started evenly and with chances for both sides. Danhof then made it 1-0 in the 18th minute by leaving two Arminia defenders standing and calmly slotting the ball into the left corner. This was followed by a power play from the hosts. During this phase of the game, Arminia had many top-class chances, many of which could only be defused by Aue keeper Martin Männel. The hosts were not rewarded and Bär scored in the 40th minute after a cross from Danhof to make it 2:0. But seconds before half-time, the hosts scored the equalizer.

The Arminians came out of the half better and had two dangerous chances in the first five minutes. This time, Bielefeld were rewarded with the equalizer. Aue coach Pavel Dotchev then got so upset that he was sent to the stands with a yellow card. After the equalizer, both teams threw everything into the match, but the draw held.