The 05ers missed out on two points during the opening game of Bundesliga matchday 8 on Friday evening when they drew 1-1 against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The hosts clearly dominated the first half and were rewarded with the opening goal shortly after the break when Stefan Lainer steered into his own net. However, the visitors responded through Tim Kleindienst before they then retreated once more. FSV continued to press on but to no avail and actually had Robin Zentner to thank on several occasions for preserving the point in stoppage time.
Bo Henriksen made two changes from the starting line-up for the match against Leipzig. Dominik Kohr returned from suspension to replace Danny da Costa while Paul Nebel was handed his first start of the season with Armindo Sieb making way, taking a seat on the substitutes’ bench.
FSV set the tone but Burkardt has to depart
The first half-chance of the day arrived in the fourth minute when the ball was played to Anthony Caci via Jonny Burkardt. He then sent Nebel towards the baseline, but Ko Itakura was able to get an outstretched toe to his fizzing cross. The atmosphere for this early-autumn Friday evening clash was electric right from the off in the nearly sold-out stadium. The opening stages clearly belonged to the hosts. Nadiem Amiri was proving to be on particularly good form, sending three very decent long-range efforts towards goal in minutes nine, 10 and 11, although he either failed to beat Moritz Nicolas or missed the target by a matter of inches. Mainz had set the tone but a bitter moment arrived in the 18th minute, when Nebel had sent Burkardt down the line before he abruptly stopped running and went to ground holding his thigh. There was no doubt that the captain had to come off, so was replaced by Sieb, whose introduction arrived sooner than expected and Amiri took over the captain’s armband (20’). The hosts quickly shook themselves off though, continuing to press on and could have taken the lead just six minutes later via a set-piece delivered by the new captain. Defender Moritz Jenz rose highest to meet the free-kick, but headed the ball a yard and a half over the crossbar (26’).
It had been a one-sided affair. Gladbach barely got a foothold in the game let alone a foot inside the FSV penalty area and it would have been far from shocking to see the hosts leading after 30 minutes, but the next opportunity did not materialise either. Kaishu Sano joined in with the attack this time, finding Sieb with his pass, however his sharp strike sent the ball just wide (31’). It seemed to only be a matter of time until the home side would be 1-0 up, but they still lacked clear-cut opportunities in front of goal until the final stages of the first half. That was in part down to the Foals’ apparent full concentration on remaining solid at the back. Five minutes before the break, Caci attempted a shot from the edge of the box, but Lainer blocked with his head to clear. Another chance followed just three minutes later. This time it was Nebel with the effort on goal although he too could not beat Nicolas from 20 yards out, with the keeper producing a superb reflex save (43’). Borussia went into the break level but to say that they were fortunate to do so would be an understatement.
Gladbach hit straight back after 05ers take the lead out of nowhere
Both teams emerged from the break unchanged, and the tone established during the first half remained similar in the opening phase of the second half as well, with FSV remaining on top. Following a deflected free-kick, Amiri twice got himself to the second ball to strike at goal but was blocked on both occasions (50’). Five minutes later, however, the 05ers’ time had finally come and they took a more than well-deserved lead, albeit through an own goal. Amiri sent Nebel towards the by-line, whose hard and low cross only found Stefan Lainer. Nevertheless, the defender could do nothing to prevent himself from turning the ball into his own net from four yards out (55’). The opening goal came as a relief after such sustained pressure, but was followed by an immediate sucker punch. Two minutes afterwards, Honorat delivered the first dangerous cross into the hosts’ box, where Kleindienst rose unchallenged to head in from ten yards and equalise, which even the visitors could not have accounted for at that moment in time. Right after that, the lacklustre visitors made their first move of the match and brought on Kevin Stöger for Alassane Plea. The two goals sparked the match into life, with Gladbach now also more active in their approach. In the 64th minute, Kleindienst again found himself presented with the ball face-to-face with Zentner on the right of the goal, but he failed to beat the FSV number one.
Mainz did however regain the impetus after that and took control of the match again. On 71 minutes, the impressive Nebel fired a shot from 19 yards metres out over the crossbar. However, it was also clear at this stage of the contest that the dominating and intense style of play executed until then had begun to take its toll. Forward moves were starting to lack the required precision and were fizzling out more and more frequently. As a result, the hosts next dangerous moment only arrived via a set-piece, when Maxim Leitsch met Amiri’s delivery on the volley on the edge of the six-yard box although could only direct his effort over the bar (81’). Time was running out for the home side, who should have sealed the win already earlier in the contest. Hyunseok Hong came on for compatriot Jae-sung Lee for the closing stages, but to no avail. Amiri created the next opportunity as well, taking down Sieb’s long ball with a piece of good control following a misplaced Gladbach pass in midfield; however, he could not beat Nicolas in goal (85’). That was Mainz’s 20th shot, compared to the four recorded by the visitors at that stage. Borussia almost took the lead with attempt number five in the final minute, but Zentner was on hand to save Stöger’s free-kick as well as Kleindienst’s subsequent header.
FSV will look to improve on the draw this coming Wednesday when Bayern München come to town for the sides’ DFB-Pokal second-round clash inside a sold-out MEWA ARENA.