GPS Bayern and Middlesbrough both went in to Tuesday’s clash in Clough with an opening day win and both sides were determined to secure a second win and put them in with a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals of the main competition.
With just 60 seconds on the clock, Middlesbrough should have taken the lead when the GPS full back Ngobia Maina mistimed his tackle, but Middlesbrough’s Isaac Fletcher fired the resulting spot kick well over the bar.
GPS slowly but surely found their way into the game and Dylan Rice was an ever-present threat on the counter.
However, Middlesbrough were in control of possession and were waiting patiently to try and find an opening.
But it was GPS that would open the scoring as a long ball over the Middlesbrough defence caught the English side on the back foot and a Middlesbrough defender sliced his clearance past Oliver Swan in their goal.
Middlesbrough responded well and continued to stay in control of the ball, but they only had one major opportunity to level the proceedings.
Cain Sykes nodded over from close range after a fine delivery from a set piece and it was the American side that held the upper hand at the interval.
Whatever was said in the Bayern changing room at half time had the desired effect and it was the American side that bossed the early stages of the second half.
Hesselmeyer Donovan squandered a glorious opportunity as he drove forward but he blazed over from the edge of the box.
The impressive Terry Stephenson was making inroads down the flank for Middlesbrough and his low drive was flicked into the path of McKenzie Dicicco, who could only watch in anguish as his flicked effort hit the top of the bar and GPS scrambled clear.
It was only a matter of time until the Teesiders would draw level and Joseph Ridley chased down a ball on the edge of the box and he drove inside and the advancing Isaac Hernandez fumbled Ridley’s initial effort and Ridley was left to hammer into the gaping goal to level the scores.
Flying left back Stephenson was at the centre of all of Middlesbrough’s good work and his rasping drive rattled off the woodwork and as GPS tried to clear their lines, a Middlesbrough player was fouled and Ridley calmed stepped up and fired home into the roof of the net to give the English side the lead for the first time.
Middlesbrough were pushing for a third goal and they hit the woodwork once again as GPS tried to stay in the game.
Just when it looked like Middlesbrough were set for back to back wins, GPS grabbed themselves a point.
Swan looked like he had claimed a high ball but he fumbled the ball as he came back to the ground and a clever cross back into the area was met by Maina who volleyed into the empty net to secure a point for the American side.
GPS Bayern 2
Middlesbrough 2
Credit, Sam Gamble @Sam_Gamble88