Laursen stunner earns Bielefeld a point

Augsburg 1-1 Arminia Bielefeld
Goals: 1-0 Oxford (assist: Caligiuri) 19', 1-1 Laursen (77')

Markus Weinzierl’s men wasted little time in stamping their authority on the game, with Daniel Caligiuri particularly influential on the right. Ruben Vargas had the first sight of goal in the 17th minute, dragging an effort wide of the post, and Caligiuri went closer moments later when forcing a smart stop from Stefan Ortega at his near post. The opening goal came from the resulting corner though, with Caligiuri swinging a delivery into the six-yard box that Reece Oxford powered in with a header. Augsburg’s pressure waned after that and Bielefeld gradually grew into the game, even if two long-range shots off target from Manuel Prietl were as close as they came to finding an equaliser.

The visitors managed to carry that momentum into the second half, aided by the introductions of Alessandro Schöpf and Edmilson Fernandes, and the match became a more evenly balanced affair. Janni Serra went close to connecting with a teasing cross from the right, while Robin Hack curled a free-kick over the bar as Bielefeld showed greater attacking purpose than they had before the interval. Their efforts were rewarded in the final 15 minutes when Augsburg only half-cleared a free-kick to the edge of the D, where Laursen was loitering to smash in a brilliant left-footed volley. Jan Moravek had a goal disallowed for offside at the other end of the pitch just seconds later, while Noah Sorenren Bazee suffered the same fate in the last minute, leaving the hosts left pondering what might have been as they shared the spoils at the final whistle.

• Oxford scored his first Bundesliga goal in his 58th league appearance.
• It was also the first header and first goal from a set piece that Augsburg have scored this term.
• Not only that, it was the first goal from a set piece that Bielefeld have conceded under coach Frank Kramer.
• Augsburg were in front at half-time for the first time since Weinzierl returned to the club (10 games).
• Laursen scored his first ever Bundesliga goal.
• Bielefeld and Augsburg are the Bundesliga’s lowest scorers at this stage of the season (four apiece). They’re also the bottom two for possession, with 41 and 42 percent respectively.

Watch: Nilsson: "We're hard to beat"

Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Gumny, Gouweleeuw (c), Oxford - Hahn (Finnbogason 85'), Caligiuri (Sarenren Bazee 85'), Strobl, Maier, Pedersen (Iago 78') - Zeqiri (Moravek 67'), Vargas (Cordova 67')
Unused subs: Koubek, Gregoritsch, Winther, Framberger
Out: Niederlechner (groin), Uduokhai (muscular)
Coach: Markus Weinzierl

Bielefeld: Ortega - Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, Laursen - Kunze, Prietl (c), Wimmer (Fernandes 46'), Hack (Krüger 88') - Okugawa (Schöpf 46') - Serra (Klos 64')
Unused subs: Kapino, Ramos, Czyborra, De Medina, Lasme
Out: Andrade (hamstring)
Coach: Frank Kramer