FSV are through to the second round of the Pokal after a narrow win

FSV were able to secure their progression into the second round of the DFB-Pokal away at SV Elversberg after an entertaining 90 minutes in which they were dominant for long periods of play. Ludovic Ajorque scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the second half, with the penalty won by his fellow countryman Anthony Caci after an energetic burst. Ajorque was incorrectly denied a perfectly good goal before the half-time break. FSV only found themselves in danger of conceding an equaliser in the closing stages as the hosts failed to make the most of a double chance, with the hosts hardly threatening in the final third before that moment.

None of FSV’s new arrivals featured in the starting line-up as Tom Krauß, Sepp van den Berg and Daniel Batz were all amongst the substitutes in the Saarland region. Bo Svensson, who would’ve been unable to take his place on the touchline in any case due to his suspension resulting from his red card against Bayern München in last year’s DFB-Pokal game, did not make the journey due to a minor illness. Since Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Maxim Leitsch were unavailable due to injury, holding midfielder Dominik Kohr played in the middle of Mainz’s back five. 

FSV search for an early lead

The Bundesliga side had the first opportunity during an initially balanced start to the game as they launched a swift attack down the left flank for the first time. Anthony Caci got to the byline and put a sharp cross into the box, where Kevin Conrad beat Ludovic Ajorque to the ball and ensured that his goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof wasn’t required to make his first save of the game. Two minutes later, the French striker found himself in a shooting position inside the penalty area for the first time, but once again the second-division side’s keeper was able to make the save. FSV continued to work hard against the underdogs, looking for clear-cut chances. Edimilson tried his luck from distance in the 13th minute (just wide), before Leandro Barreiro had a shot at goal with his left foot from 16 metres out, once again forcing Kristof into a save (14’). The 23-year old shot-stopper was without a doubt the best player on the pitch in the first 20 minutes, shortly afterwards demonstrating quick reactions in managing to turn a Karim Onisiwo header onto the post after a corner from Edimilson (19’). FSV continued to cause their opponents problems with their varied attacking play with Jae-Sung Lee, Ajorque and Onisiwo rotating regularly, although they didn’t get their reward early on. Shortly afterwards, the hosts posed their first threat to the Mainz goal. First, Jannik Rochelt failed to make a meaningful connection from 11 metres out after a ball into the box from ex-Mainz man Maurice Neubauer in the 22nd minute. A minute later, an effort from Wahid Faghir flew about half a metre over FSV captain Robert Zentner’s bar. It was a lively contest with plenty of chances. In direct response, Barreiro once again broke away at pace in the middle of the park, but put his effort over the bar from 18 metres (23’). 

There were fewer clear cut chances in the following period of the game, although the Bundesliga side should’ve been able to demonstrate their superiority on the scoreboard before half time. The Zerofivers had ten shots to their opponents’ one in the first half. FSV did not benefit from a dangerous situation in the 43rd minute. Anton Stach had set Ludovic Ajorque away with a long ball from his own half, with the Frenchman putting the volley away from inside the box, however the goal was ruled out due to a supposed offside – an incorrect decision that wasn’t able to be checked over due to the lack of video assistance in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. Shortly afterwards, the teams went into the half-time break level. 

Lee misses several opportunities, Caci’s determination provides the breakthrough

By the beginning of the second half, it had become clear that Ajorque’s goal had been unfairly ruled out. Despite their dominance going unrewarded, FSV maintained their focus and continued to press for the opening goal after the break. First, Lee put his header over the bar from Onisiwo’s cross in the 55th minute. Only a minute later, the South Korean was once again at the centre of the action as a low ball into the box from Danny da Costa landed at his feet, although Lucas Pinkert was able to block his first-time effort on the goal line in the 56th minute. The Zerofivers were not far away from earning a well-deserved lead, but didn’t want to drop off during this phase of the game. FSV also were unable to break the deadlock, as Stefan Bell got on the end of a quality corner from Edimilson, forcing Kristof into a sublime save in the Elversberg goal. There was no threat at the other end of the pitch during the second half. Things continued in a similar vein as Lee received the ball from Barreiro eight minutes later, although he was denied by the impressive Kristof. The long-awaited breakthrough finally arrived soon afterwards. Anthony Caci accelerated and advanced into the penalty box, where he was brought down by a sliding challenge from Manuel Feil. Referee Martin Petersen pointed to the penalty spot, with Ajorque stepping up and leaving Kristof with no chance.

Nervous moments once again

FSV were finally ahead and things were to stay that way. Five minutes after going in front, Onisiwo hit the woodwork with a powerful effort. Shortly afterwards, two new Mainz players were able to celebrate their competitive debuts as Sepp van den Berg and Tom Krauß replaced Caci and Lee in the 80th minute. Elversberg played out the closing stages of the game a man down as the man responsible for giving the penalty away was felled and vehemently demanded a penalty, resulting in Petersen showing the 28-year-old a second yellow card. Those who thought that Elversberg’s fate had now been sealed were to be surprised. Kohr lost the ball to Rochelt just inside his own penalty area, who in turn found the substitute Paul Stock, whose near post effort was denied before he hit the side netting with the follow-up effort. Not much more action was to follow in Elversberg as the Bundesliga side secured a narrow, but thoroughly deserved victory. 

The Zerofivers begin their Bundesliga campaign next weekend as they face Union Berlin away from home on Sunday afternoon at 15:30 CEST. FSV then entertain Eintracht Frankfurt a week later in their first home game at the MEWA ARENA. 

SV ELVERSBERG - MAINZ 05 0-1

SV Elversberg: Kristof - Conrad (64‘ Sicker), Sickinger, Correia (13‘ Pinckert), Feil, Sahin, Jacobsen, Neubauer, Schnellbacher, Faghir (58‘ Stock), Rochelt
Mainz 05: Zentner - da Costa, Bell, Kohr, Edimilson, Caci (80‘ van den Berg) - Barreiro (90+4‘ Papela), Stach - Lee (80‘ Krauß), Ajorque (90‘ Weiper), Onisiwo

Goal: 0-1 Ajorque (73‘, Penalty)
Attendance: 10,500
Referee: Martin Petersen