Augsburg comeback thwarts Darmstadt

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FC Augsburg fought back from two goals down to secure a deserved 2-2 draw at SV Darmstadt 98 on Saturday.

SV Darmstadt 98 2-2 FC Augsburg

Goals: 1-0 Vrancic (12'), 2-0 Wagner (40'), 2-1 Feulner (63'), 2-2 Finnbogason (pen. 90)

Both sides went into the game looking to edge a few steps clearer of the relegation places, but it was the home side that controlled proceedings early on. The Lilies took a deserved lead on 12 minutes when Mario Vrancic tapped in after Marwin Hitz failed to hold Florian Jungwirth's shot.

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Without the physicality of Raul Bobadilla up front, Markus Weinzierl's men looked lightweight in the challenge and save for two Dominik Kohr efforts from range, barely threatened in the first half. By contrast, the hosts looked dangerous each time they went forward, and after Hitz tipped a Tobias Kempe strike around the post, Sandro Wagner doubled the lead with a thunderous header from the resulting corner.

To their credit, Augsburg rallied in the second period and were more than deserving of a point. Markus Feulner's sensational strike in off the post brought them back into contention, before Alfred Finnbogason was denied by a brilliant stop from Christian Mathenia. Caiuby also headed against the post and had a goal ruled out for a foul, but as time wound down, the visitors were given a golden chance to level when Ja-Cheol Koo was fouled in the penalty area. Finnbogason stepped forward to coolly convert and ensure the spoils were shared.

Man of the match

Finnbogason was largely a passenger in a first half dominated by the home side, but the Iceland international was a constant menace in the second period, drawing a stunning save from Mathenia before crowning his performance with the all-important equaliser.

Talking point

In the race to avoid the drop, there is no mistaking which side will be happier with the point. Die Fuggerstädter remain in 13th place, two places above Darmstadt, who are still just three points above the relegation play-off place.

Match stats

    Vrancic's goal was his first of the season and first in the Bundesliga since netting for SC Paderborn 07 in April 2015.Feulner's goal was his first in the top flight since December 2014.Wagner has scored six headed goals in the league this season, more than any other player.

Line-ups

Darmstadt: Mathenia - Jungwirth, Sulu (c), Rajkovic, Caldirola - Heller, Niemeyer (Sirigu 71'), Gondorf, Kempe (Holland 87') - Vrancic (Gorka 81'), Wagner

Augsburg: Hitz - Feulner, Hong, Klavan (Altintop 87'), Stafylidis (Max 54') - Kohr (Al Ajeti 64'), Baier (c) - Esswein, Koo, Caiuby - Finnbogason