The Lions cry "Aue" in 1-1 draw

On a cold, foggy night in the Bavarian capital, in front of 17,600 spectators, TSV 1860 Munich hosted FC Erzgebirge Aue for the 10th game of the league season. A one-all draw was not what Sixty had hoped for as they'd planned on staying up there amongst the promotion spots.

The Lions have had more success than failure this year and, on paper, they should have made easy work of their opponents. It may sound a bit of a cliché but it is often the games you are expected to win that can be the most difficult.

The Lions' supporters were confident of a victory, especially with the history between the two sides leaning in 1860's favour. Furthermore, this was the 13th time they'd met in the Second Division and 1860 had only lost one of their last eight fixtures against Aue, remaining undefeated at home.

The home side went into the game with the third best home form in the league. Aue's away form on the other hand, just so happened to be the worst in the division. Prior to kick off 

1860 manager Reiner Maurer spoke of the advantages of having depth in his squad and how their opponents had every right to be displeased with their performances. At full time though, his tone described a performance guilty of being 'too slow and sloppy'.

It had all started so well for the home side too. Six minutes in and Stoppelkamp swung the ball in between Lauth and Aue keeper Maennel for Nicu to connect, but the Romanian midfielder could only hit it over the bar.

Minutes later, Aue went on the offensive and were denied a penalty after a tumble in the box. Shortly afterwards, Sylvestr played it in to Aue dangerman Schlitte, but his effort from thirty yards out was saved magnificently by 1860 goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly.

1860 responded and when Lauth got forward and had only the Saxon's goalkeeper to beat, it seemed inevitable the 1860 hero would score but his effort went off target. Ten minutes later the fans experienced what Maurer was later to describe as 'sloppy'. A needless backpass by Aygun was picked up by Hensel but fortunately Kiraly was there to clear it to safety and keep the Lions in the game.

The opening goal came after 51 minutes when 1860 lost possesion in the centre circle. Sylvestr was left with only Kiraly to beat and this time he kept his effort low, rolling the ball into the bottom left-hand corner. The equalizer followed a quarter of an hour later when Sixty's Spaniard, Guillermo Vallori, scored with a good, clean header from an in-swinging corner, leaving Maennel no chance.

The latter part of the game was frustrating for both sides. Aue's Tobias Nickenig was given a yellow card for a temper tantrum when a decision didn't go his side's way. His teammate Savran was through on goal but his effort resembled more a rugby conversion than an effort on goal. Sixty were denied a penalty in injury time with an appeal that mirrored that of Aue's in the first half. In fairness, the referee got it right both times.

This result leaves 1860 in fifth place in the league, four points behind second placed Hertha Berlin.