FSV fall to defeat against Stuttgart

A late goal once again cost 1. FSV Mainz 05 in their second home game of the season. After conceding a late equaliser three weeks ago against Eintracht Frankfurt, Mainz were beaten 3-1 by VfB Stuttgart on Saturday afternoon. Serhou Guirassy was the match-winner for the visitors, bagging a hat-trick for his side and scoring the decisive goals in the closing stages of a hard-fought clash. Leandro Barreiro had cancelled out VfB’s opener in the 70th minute, yet VfB managed to hit back whilst FSV were on top, securing all three points in the process. 

Bo Svensson made two changes from the defeat in Bremen, as Stefan Bell and Marco Richter replaced Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Brajan Gruda, who were both not fit enough to take their places in the matchday squad. Bell came in at centre-back, whilst Richter took over on the wing, lining up opposite Jae-sung Lee out wide. 

05ers unable to take the lead despite early chances

After a balanced start, the hosts registered the first shot of the game. Dominik Kohr tried his luck from 20 yards out after a lay-off from Karim Onisiwo, although Dan-Axel Zagadou’s deflection turned the ball behind for a corner (8’). The visitors failed to clear the danger from the subsequent set-piece, with Richter getting on the end of a deflected cross from Anthony Caci, forcing Alexander Nübel into a reaction save in the Stuttgart goal (9’). Serhou Guirassy had his side’s first serious effort after 17 minutes, although the striker’s header flew a good yard wide of the target. FSV had begun the game in determined fashion despite having less of the ball and looked the more likely to score the opening goal. However, accuracy was lacking in the final third all too often, meaning that Nübel wasn’t tested further in the opening stages. After a tight opening half an hour, FSV had recorded five shots to the visitors’ one, while Stuttgart had seen more of the ball and won more individual duels. There was little action in either penalty area for long periods until van den Berg made an almost fatal error in the 38th minute: his pass as last man was intercepted by Enzo Millot, yet Guirassy was unable to make the most of the following chance as he tripped over the ball. Silas found himself with just Robin Zentner to beat with the follow-up, although his effort from eight yards out was straight at Mainz’s goalkeeper. That was the last noteworthy action of a first half which was dominated by two stable defensive units and contained very few goalscoring opportunities. 

Ice-cold Guirassy cancels out Barreiro’s equaliser

After both teams returned to the pitch unchanged, it was the visitors who fired off the first warning shot following the interval as an effort from Chris Führich flew wide of the goal (51’). Three minutes later, van den Berg blocked an attempt from Hiroki Ito after confusion in the Mainz defence (54’). The hosts, who became increasingly nervous considering their disappointing start to the season, didn’t have to wait much longer for their first chance of the second half. Dan Axel-Zagadou blocked Richter’s shot after a lovely interchange between Phillipp Mwene and Leandro Barreiro, before Onisiwo’s follow-up effort missed the target (55’). VfB then struck on the break when a misjudgement from Bell left Guirassy with acres of space to loft the ball over Zentner from ten yards out to give his side a 1-0 lead. 

Svensson reacted to falling behind by sending on Ludovic Ajorque in place of Richter, making a tactical alteration to play with two centre forwards. However, FSV were fortunate not to fall further behind on the hour mark, when Führich’s attempt from just inside the box fizzed narrowly wide of the post. Mainz made their next substitutions five minutes later, and the introduction of Tom Krauß and Aymen Barkok helped the hosts gain momentum. Mainz came extremely close to finding an equaliser in the 68th minute, but Tom Krauß struck the left post from Ajorque’s headed pass just moments after coming on. This chance seemed to spark the hosts into life as they once again found themselves with an opportunity in VfB’s box two minutes later, and this time they took it. Substitute Aymen Barkok put a cross into the box from the right-hand side, with Barreiro managing to scramble the ball home via a flick-on from Onisiwo (70’). The MEWA ARENA, filled with 30,500 spectators, suddenly found its voice, and the hosts found a new lease of life after having equalised. It was a therefore a real shame to then see Onisiwo forced to leave the pitch in the 78th minute after a tireless display, with Papela entering the fray in his place. The change halted FSV’s momentum, which the visitors were more than happy to take hold of. Once again, it was Guirassy who demonstrated his quality in front of goal, putting his side back ahead with another dinked finish over Zentner. It didn’t seem as though a goal had been coming, but that didn’t matter. The 05ers once again looked to find an equaliser in the closing stages after falling behind for the second time. Barkok came close to finding what would have been a deserved leveller in the 89th minute, but his shot from the left-hand side of the box following some great interplay with Caci flew inches wide. Six minutes were added on shortly afterwards, and Barkok once again went close in the final minutes. However, his volley from a tight angle was saved by Nübel (90+3’), before Guirassy wrapped things up down the other end, with his header making it 3-1 to the visitors.

Mainz find themselves at the foot of the table after their first home defeat of the season, having picked up one point from their opening four matches. They take on FC Augsburg away from home next Saturday afternoon. 

MAINZ 05 1-3 VFB STUTTGART

Mainz 05: Zentner - Mwene, van den Berg, Bell (67‘ Krauß), Edimilson, Caci - Kohr, Barreiro - Richter (59’ Ajorque), Onisiwo (78’ Papela), Lee (67‘ Barkok)
Stuttgart: Nübel - Stenzel, Anton, Zagadou, Ito (90+5’ Rouault) - Karazor, Millot (87’ Leweling), Stiller - Führich (87’ Undav), Silas (68’ Mittelstädt), Guirassy

Goals: 0-1 Guirassy (56‘), 1-1 Barreiro (70‘), 1-2 Guirassy (85‘) 1-3 Guirassy (90+7‘)
Attendance: 30,500
Officials: Harm Osmers (Robert Kempter, Thorben Siewer, Arne Aarnink, Sven Jablonski)