Augsburg hosted Nuremberg in the Bundesliga looking to close the six-point gap to 15th-placed Wolfsburg.
The visitors went ahead with a classic counter-attack, Hiroshi Kiyotake sweeping into the top corner from inside the box to round it off.
Augsburg levelled courtesy of an awful piece of goalkeeping by Raphael Schafer, who spilled Tobias Werner's tame header into his own net.
However, Nuremberg scored a second with a fine Alexander Esswein free kick and this time Augsburg had no answer.
Read below how the action unfolded.
Hello all and thanks for joining me tonight. We have an intriguing clash tonight at the bottom end of the Bundesliga.
Augsburg are in very real danger of relegation and sit 16th, in the relegation playoff spot. They're six points from any hint of guaranteed safety and seven from tonight's visitors, Nuremberg.
Nuremberg are 13th. They are five points from the top half so from that point of view should be looking up rather than down the table. Tonight offers a great chance for them to increase the gap to the teams below them, in particular Augsburg.
I'll get straight on to the lineups.
AUGSBURG XI: Amsif; Ostrzolek, Callsen-Bracker, Klavan, Vogt; Otti; Werner, Ji, Koo, Hahn; Molders
NUREMBERG XI: Schafer; Chandler, Nilsson, Klose, Plattenhardt; Ballitsch, Simons; Kiyotake, Feulner, Esswein; Pekhart
So it's quite defensive from the hosts, while the visitors have opted for more forward-minded players.
Augsburg will, naturally, be looking to top-scorer Sascha Molders for inspiration tonight. The striker has nine goals so far, which is a very good return considering his side's position in the league.
Nuremberg's goals have come from a range of sources so far. Top-scorer with four goals Sebastian Polter does not play, but Tomas Pekhart, with three, leads the line. Timmy Simons has chipped in with three from midfield.
A look at the odds tells us that, in fact, Augsburg are the favourites here. That might be because they've won their previous two games. If you fancy a punt on them, you can back them at slightly better than evens. Nuremberg are slightly further back at almost 3/1. They themselves are unbeaten in five, but have drawn four in a row.
If you ask me, and I know you are, it'll be a draw. I can't see many goals so 1-1 seems a decent shout to me.
The teams are out on the pitch, so we're almost ready for kickoff.
We're off right on time.
It's Augsburg who have started the brighter side, immediately looking to press and harry their visitors. Tobias Werner has the first shot at goal, but slices his effort high and wide.
CHANCE! Feulner gets in behind the hosts defence from a free kick, but his effort at the far post is off target. A half-chance, that, he probably could have done better though.
BOOKING: Nuremberg have settled now after the bright Augsburg start. That said, Marvin Plattenhardt brings down Ji and becomes the first player booked.
Andre Hahn gets himself in a lot of space to the right of the box but delivers a poor cross that is cut out. The following attack breaks down, but Nuremberg lose it again. Very scrappy at the moment, neither side can hold on to possession.
Very patient passing football now from Augsburg. They can't get into the box though, as Werner again goes for the shot from range. This time it's blocked, however, and the ball eventually goes out for an Augsburg throw in their own half.
Still they probe and still their attacks break down when they near the Nuremberg area. The visitors are looking to play on the counter.
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Augsburg haven't scored many goals in the Bundesliga at all. The second-fewest, in fact. You can see why early on here, there's a real lack of penetration in their attacks.
Werner is played through over the top and tries to get it under control, but Schafer comes out well to gather. The offside flag was raised, however. Replays suggest that no, no he wasn't offside.
It's still Augsburg with all the possession. They have a free kick now to the left of the box, about 20 yards out. Koo to take.
It's swung in but misses all the heads in the middle and goes harmlessly out of play.
GOAL! Augsburg 0-1 Nuremberg (Kiyotake)
Well, it's 64% possession that Augsburg have had but Nuremberg take the lead on the break through Hiroshi Kiyotake. He sweeps home a low cross with his left foot into the top corner, really good finish.
Augsburg respond with a shot through Otti, but Schafer beats it away from his bottom corner. It would have taken some awful goalkeeping to let that one in, however.
Esswein tracks all the way back to keep the ball away from Hahn, then wins a soft free kick. Good defending really, as he was always likely to get the decision with Hahn trying to win the ball from behind.
SAVE! Nilsson gives away a free kick right on the left corner of the box. Koo again steps up... This time he goes for goal and Schafer tips over the bar. Decent effort.
Nuremberg break from a corner through Esswein, but his cross is easily cleared. That was a decent chance but the lofted cross was the type defenders are always favourite for.
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Augsburg haven't changed their game plan after the goal. They're still keeping the ball, but as has already been proven that plays right into the hands of Nuremberg.
Werner again finds his range, this time a volley from just outside the box. It goes a couple of feet over the bar, though. Would have been a wonderful goal, but the odds were always against him.
Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker gives the ball away, which allows the visitors to send Esswein away down the left. His cross is cut out, however. He's been a real threat so far, while Ji and Werner have looked most likely for the hosts.
Really good tackle from Nilsson on Matthias Ostrzolek, who was looking to break through. Instead, Augsburg go back to the defence from the throw. Very good defending so far from Nuremberg, in particular Nilsson.
Still the Nuremberg defence is on top of things. Their positioning is superb and they keep getting between Augsburg player and the ball. It'll be a real struggle for the hosts to score tonight.
GOAL! Augsburg 1-1 Nuremberg (Werner)
Oh dear, oh dear, Raphael Schafer. Werner gets on the end of a Hahn cross but directs it straight at the keeper. Somehow, he lets it go under his body and over the line before he can scoop it out! Awful goalkeeping but the hosts will certainly take it! That might well get given as an own-goal, but for now it's Werner's.
BOOKING: Markus Feulner becomes the second visiting player booked. A simple decision for the referee with a clear tug from the Nuremberg player.
Augsburg still dominating the possession, as they have for the previous 40 minutes. The goal was probably deserved although I'm reluctant to say definitely as they hadn't created enough for the amount of the ball they saw.
Kiyotake almost dinks a peach of a ball to Pekhart, but it's just about cut out. At the other end Otti shoots from range but it's almost as far wide as the distance he shot from.
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HALF-TIME: Augsburg 1-1 Nuremberg
The referee blows the half-time whistle even before the 45 minutes are up! He ends a very interesting half of football in which Augsburg have dominated the possession but Nuremberg have had the better chances.
After a couple of early chances went begging for the visitors, they took the lead in the 19th minute with a swift counter-attacking move. Esswein was set away down the left and his cutback was swept into the top corner by Kiyotake.
Augsburg stuck to their principles of passing football and got the equaliser, although it was very fortunate. Werner put a free header straight at Schafer, but he somehow fumbled it down and through his legs and over the line. Awful keeping and it's why the scores are level at the break.
A couple of minutes away from the restart and I doubt either manager will look to his respective bench just yet. Augsburg look happy controlling the possession, while Nuremberg look dangerous on the break.
I was wrong, there is a sub for Nuremberg. Plattenhardt makes way for Javier Pinola.
We're back underway here. Can either side get an early second-half breakthrough?
Early corner for Augsburg, won off the new man Pinola. It's header away, then worked to the edge of the box where Ji fires just wide from the edge of the box. Good effort from the Sunderland man.
This half has started in the opposite way from the first. It's Nuremberg doing much of the passing in the opening few minutes, while the best chance has gone to Augsburg.
However, as I say that, Augsburg are now looking comfortab;e on the ball once more. Callsen-Bracker and Koo combine, but the latter wants too much time and the attack breaks down. They come again and Ottl's shot is blocked.
BOOKING: Callsen-Bracker goes into the book and almost gives away a penalty. It's a free kick right on the edge of the box as Kiyotake is tripped.
GOAL! Augsburg 1-2 Nuremberg (Esswein)
A few players stand over the free kick, but it's Esswein who runs at it and hammers it low into the bottom corner. Absolutely no chance for Amsif in the goal as it went under the wall and flew past him. Fantastic free kick.
Really Augsburg have scored from what wasn't exactly a chance, and they've not created a lot else despite their possession. You'd have to think it's a big ask for them to get level for a second time.
Still Augsburg remain patient, but once more another attack comes unstuck in the Nuremberg third. The visitors aren't even having to harry too much either, which must be worrying from the Augsburg point of view.
Now Nuremberg come forward with the ball a little but it's the same story at the other end. Despite the scoreline, neither side has shown much in the way of creativity.
AUGSBURG SUB: Goalscorer Werner, who has probably been their best player, makes way for Torsten Oerhl as Augsburg switch to two up top.
Hahn somehow escapes a booking for a wild swipe at the legs of Esswein. Nuremberg are really looking to slow this down now with safe passing.
The Augsburg players' heads have visibly dropped now. They're not looking confident and keep giving the ball away. Kiyotake nips in but he then loses out to Klavan. Augsburg look to attack again but once more the shot is from outside the box, this time Ottl.
A free kick comes in and the ball is flicked towards goal, but easy for Schafer, who manages to hang on comfortably this time...
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BOOKING: Koo is the third Augsburg player booked, for a late lunge. At the same time, Jan Moravek comes on for Ottl. The latter has been disappointing.
Oerhl is struggling to get into the game, but Moravek is having an early say on possession. Oehrl throws himself at a cross but succeeds only in fouling Timmy Simons.
Feulner shoots from a decent position not far outside the box. He had players left and right but bobbles his shot wide. Wasteful.
NUREMBERG SUB: Berkay Debanli comes on for Ballitsch, who has been anonymous really.
There's a severe lack of chances just at the moment. I have to say I'd be shocked if this ended with any other result than 2-1 right now. Augsburg need a big effort; they're not out of it if they just up the tempo a bit.
It's incredibly scrappy and there's very little to report. A couple of niggly fouls and several misplaced passes is about it.
AUGSBURG SUB: Ji, who has played quite well, comes off for the strong and pacy Aristide Bance.
OFF THE POST! Amsif is beaten with a thunderous header from Dabanli, but it cracks against the post. Kiyotake comes off for Muhammed Ildiz.
Augsburg won't get back into this if they lump free kicks straight into the arms of Schafer. Unless they're expecting him to drop it again... They're seriously running out of ideas. Time, too, just over three minutes of normal time left.
Bance has been very disappointing since coming on. He is to the right of Molders while Oerhl is to the left. The tactic simply isn't working.
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Three minutes of time added on has been indicated.
Oerhl wins a big header, but instead of finding Molders it skips through to Schafer. Just a minute left now.
Nuremberg have the ball in the corner, right where they want it.
FULL-TIME: Augsburg 1-2 Nuremberg
So it's Nuremberg who win this crucial contest and the three points must surely mean they are safe this season. Instead they can look up the league. Augsburg will now have an eye on tomorrow's league action as the bottom two, Greuther Furth and Hoffenheim, play each other.
That's everything from me tonight. Thanks for joining us and please do keep an eye on the site for all the weekend's football action. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
