Norwich City’s pre-season training camp in Germany concluded with a competitive 2-2 draw against SSV Jahn Regensburg at ASV Grassau Sportspark.
Todd Cantwell and Jon Rowe were on target for Dean Smith’s side, who made the most of the opportunity to rotate the camp’s travelling squad.
Within the opening 60 seconds, City were immediately on the backfoot, as Regensburg opened the scoring.
Following knock down and from all of 30 yards out, Andreas Albers guided a wonderful effort into the top corner beyond the flying frame of Angus Gunn.
The early throes of the game certainly had a competitive edge, with the German Bundesliga 2. side clearly a lot further on in their pre-season preparations. After a combative opening 20 minutes, City, however, were back on level terms.
A flowing move upfield culminated in Milot Rashica crossing for Josh Sargent, who did well to adjust and head the ball goalwards. His looping effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Regensburg goalkeeper Dejan Stojanovic, with Cantwell alive to nod home the loose ball.
As City began to rotate following the first 30-minute interval, Regensburg began to assert some control on the contest.
Regensburg were rewarded for a positive passage of play on 42 minutes, as Joshua Mees was alert to collect and strike a bouncing ball in the City area, giving the German side the lead once again.
Regensburg continued to create chances, primarily from set pieces. Defender Steve Breitkreuz came close from successive corner kicks, heading Nicklas Schipnoski’s delivery wide and over City’s goal.
City did threaten from a set piece of their own, as Cantwell came within a whisker of converted a 25-yard free kick.
It wasn't until the final half-hour of the game when City really began to impose themselves on the game.
One of those introduced on the 60-minute mark, Rowe, looked lively throughout his cameo appearance and he brought City level.
It took just four minutes for the academy graduate to make his mark. He assumed possession on the left side of the Regensburg penalty area, skipped inside his marker before crashing a right-footed effort goalwards that was too hot for Stojanovic to handle.
From that point forward it was one-way traffic. Teemu Pukki fired narrowly wide before Danel Sinani saw a low effort well saved after a rapid counter.
Christos Tzolis then turned smartly in a tight and crowded Regensburg penalty area, but his shot was dragged just wide.
Regensburg did threaten from a free kick, but Michael McGovern was alert to superbly repel Shipnoski’s free kick.
There was still time for both Pukki and Rowe to see efforts well saved by sub goalkeeper Weidinger, as a competitive game ultimately ended level.
SSV Jahn Regensburg XI: Stojanovic (Weidinger 82), Gimber, Saller, Shipnoski (Kennedy 86), Thalhammer, Owusu, Albers (Schmidt 86), Guwara (Caliskaner 86), Breitkreuz (Viet 86), Mees (Gouras 60), Elvedi
Subs not used: Faber, Yildirim, Gouras, , Makridis, Zwarts, Nachreiner
Goals: Albers (1), Mees (29)
Bookings: None
Norwich City XI: Gunn (McGovern 46), Byram (Aarons 31, Mumba 61), Zimmermann (Hanley 61), Gibson (Tomkinson 61), McCallum (Giannoulis 61), Sorensen (Gibbs 61), Lees-Melou (McLean 61), Cantwell (Sinani 61), Dowell (Hernandez 31, Tzolis 61), Rachica (Springett 31, Rowe 61), Sargent (Hugill 31, Pukki 61),
Subs not used: None
Goals: Cantwell (18), Rowe (64)
Bookings: Cantwell (39)
30: 1-1
60: 2-1
Full time: 2-2
Venue: ASV Grassau Sportspark