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Augsburg held Liverpool 0-0 in UEFA Europa League

Xinhua, February 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

The first-leg clash between Augsburg and Liverpool ended in a stalemate after 90 minutes, at the round of the last 32 in UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

In their first ever Europa League knockout match, courageous Augsburg held Liverpool FC to a goalless draw on home soil to lay a respectable foundation for the second leg at the Anfield Road in one week.

The hosts surprised with an offensively minded strategy from the kick off and created the first chance through Raul Bobadilla, whose effort landed in the side netting with three minutes in the game. Liverpool approached Augsburg's goal area five minutes later when Roberto Firmino's effort tested Marwin Hitz.

Augsburg suffered an injury blow with 23 minutes into the match as top scorer Raul Bobadilla had to be replaced due to a muscle injury. However, the hosts remained unimpressed and should have scored the opener but Alexander Esswein' s solo run and shot on target was blocked by Liverpool custodian Simon Mignolet from very close range just before the break.

Things changed after the restart as Liverpool increased their efforts to take over. Daniel Sturridge was unable to tap in James Milner' s pinpoint cross before Augsburg keeper Marwin Hitz defused Philippe Coutinho' s and Alberto Moreno' s attempts on target.

However, Augsburg had the biggest chance of the game in the dying minutes of the game but Dong-Won Ji rattled only the outside post.

With the result, the "Fuggerstaedter" need a win or a draw, except a goalless draw, to book the next round, meanwhile Liverpool definitely need a victory at the second-leg to ensure their progression.

"We didn' t play bad but that was too little. We can do better than that and we have to show that in the second leg," Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp said.

"I am very satisfied with the team' s performance. We gave Liverpool a hard time and worked out two promising chances. The goalless draw is a good result for us. We control our own destiny," Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl said.

Liverpool FC host Augsburg for the second leg in Europa League on Feb. 25. Endit