Italy star Mohamed Ali Zoma stretchered off as Nürnberg held by Cottbus
Zoma's night ends after 32 minutes in Cottbus
Recently-capped Italy international Mohamed Ali Zoma was carried off on a stretcher after suffering an injury half an hour into a 2. Bundesliga draw between Energie Cottbus and 1. FC Nürnberg on Friday evening. The 22-year-old had scored seven goals from seven appearances in the 2. Bundesliga ahead of kick-off, but his evening lasted just 32 minutes before leaving the field on a stretcher.
Zoma suffered his first setback of the campaign in the sixth minute, but he played through the pain for nearly half an hour before finally giving up. Initial reports indicate that this could be a shoulder issue, as Zoma fell awkwardly after a duel with Cottbus defender Henry Rorig.
Hosts create more but Nürnberg fight back
Although Rayan Ghrieb was denied by the woodwork with the best chance of the half, it was the hosts who created more opportunities in the final third. King Manu had the first chance of the evening before Justin Butler's attempt to extend his impressive scoring run.
The German-American succeeded in scoring for the fourth time on the trot ten minutes after the restart. Leonardo Bittencourt produced an unselfish assist as the duo broke Nürnberg's offside trap. Butler scored for the second time less than ten minutes later, but Henry Rorig was in an offside position before his pass to the former Borussia Dortmund II striker.
The visitors then had two clear-cut chances through Piet Scobel. The 21-year-old was first denied his sixth goal by the post before Marcel Lotka produced the save of the game from his powerful header. However, Miroslav Klose's side still found their way as Armenian defender Styopa Mkrtchyan scored from close range in his first competitive appearance of the season.
Klose's men were the closest to take all three points after that, but Cottbus held on to their solitary point, with the two sides eventually sharing the spoils after an entertaining second half that saw the coach keep his unbeaten record thanks to the late equaliser.
Zoma's breakthrough season and Italy call-up
Zoma was one of the surprise inclusions of Roberto Mancini's Italy national team squad for Nations League fixtures against Belgium, Turkiye (x2) and France during the September-October break, earning his first cap off the bench during the 2-0 defeat against Belgium. He had also been eligible to represent Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast at senior international level.
At club level, he represents Nürnberg in the second tier of German football, having joined Miroslav Klose's side from AlbinoLeffe in the summer of 2025. He has since scored 20 goals from 35 league appearances in Germany.
Leaders Hertha BSC drop points
Nürnberg missed out on closing the gap with league leaders Hertha BSC, whose perfect record ended with a goalless draw away at winless Holstein Kiel. Nürnberg currently find themselves in second place in the 2. Bundesliga with five wins and three draws from their first eight matches of the season.