Forth turns the game around and still fails to win his first away win
Team Forth has managed only one win per season so far. At Bielefeld’s penultimate table, it seemed like it was time for a second success. SpVgg took the lead despite being late. But then a long-range shot saved Armenia.
JOnzalo Castro saved Armenia Bielefeld from a severe setback in his struggle to stay in the classroom. With his superb long-range shot in the 83rd minute, the winter newcomer from East Westphalia avoided an impending defeat in a 2-2 (1-1) vaulted duel with SpVgg Greuther Fürth. However, Armenia missed the opportunity to leave the drop zone for the first time since the beginning of October.
Forth had previously turned the tide of the match with two goals from Jimmy Loehling (35) and Havard Nielsen (67 minutes) in front of 750 spectators at Schüco Arena. But that was enough for the first point in the 10th away game. However, the eleven point gap from the drop center 16 is still large. Bielefeld, who previously scored seven points from three matches, took an early lead through Masaya Okogawa (8).
“We can be satisfied with the point because the match did not give more than that,” said Castro, who was without a club for six months before signing at the end of December. “The 15 minutes were exhausting because she was going back and forth. We really need another goal. I slowly notice in the training that he is getting better every day. We could have won.”
He meets Okugawa and extends the line
The successful start to the basement duel has fueled the belief in the continuing positive trend in the recently strong Arminia. Because the first good opportunity brought 1: 0. After a pass from Florian Krueger, Okugawa hit the far corner with a low shot from the inside right. The Japanese once again proved to be an important support for East Westphalia and scored in the fourth game in a row.
A perfect start: Bielefeld top scorer Masaya Okogawa (left) celebrates his 1-0 lead with Alessandro Schopf (centre) and Patrick Wimmer.
Source: dpa / Friso Gentsch
However, the visitors weren’t particularly affected by the false start and settled into the opposing half in the minutes after the goal. The many cloverleaf passes in the penalty area caused only a few problems covering Bielefeld. Therefore, the goal that was guarded by goalkeeper Stefan Ortega was initially not in danger.
However, that should change in the 35th minute. In a way worth watching, the quick Leweling prevailed in a running duel against Bielefeld defender Andres Andrade and calmly finished to 1:1.
Only after this tie, Armenia again intensified its offensive efforts. However, it did not create any other scoring opportunities until the end of the first half.
After the start of the second half, the visitors were closer to the lead. But Bielefeld goalkeeper Ortega was present when Timothy Tillmann (53) hit a free kick. As in the first half, the favorite player Armenia failed to control the match. This encouraged Greuther Fürth to launch more attacks.
The Joker stands out right away: Harvard Nielsen (left) turned the match in favor of Fürth
Source: dpa / Friso Gentsch
Coach Stefan Little showed good instinct when Nielsen came in. With the ball’s first touch – less than 30 seconds after it entered the field – the Norwegian headed in from a cross to make it 2-1. But Castro managed to equalize in Bielefeld’s favour.
