Held to a draw on Matchday 1

Despite a convincing performance throughout most of the game against Union Berlin, FSV will have to be content with a 1-1 draw that seemed fair based on proceedings. The lead provided by Nadiem Amiri followed a significant period of Mainz pressure after the break, but was cancelled out by Union substitute Laszlo Benes in the latter stages. Both teams were going for the winner during the final minutes, but could not find the goal they craved. This was despite good chances, especially for the hosts.

Bo Henriksen made a solitary change from the team that saw off Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal, bringing in Karim Onisiwo to replace Armindo Sieb in the starting line-up.

The opening minutes clearly belonged to the hosts, giving Union no room to breathe in their build-up play and making the early moves themselves. After eight minutes, Frederik Rönnow had to punch clear a cross from Anthony Caci just ahead of Jonny Burkardt. Only two minutes later, a deflected shot from Kaishu Sano ended up hitting the side-netting (10’). As expected, the match was of high intensity, although not one easy on the eye. Both teams threw themselves into every tackle and could not dribble for long before being met by an opposing player. Up until the 20th minute, the most notable opportunity arrived for the Mainzer, when Kaishu Sano’s lobbed cross sailed over Caci and landed at the feet of Onisiwo, but nothing came of the chance. Union fought back and tried to go on the offensive but to no avail in a first half that consisted merely of half-chances and a few corners. The first substitution came for Mainz in just the 31st minute. Maxim Leitsch had put in a good performance until that point, but was clearly struggling after an earlier knock and had to be replaced by Stefan Bell, who was celebrating his 33rd birthday. The experienced defender slotted in well, but could do nothing to prevent Benedict Hollerbach from testing Zentner from 14 yards. The FSV keeper was able to get his fingertips to the shot though, directing it over the bar. Another chance came for the hosts shortly after, with Phillip Mwene crossing from the right-hand side, but Onisiwo’s header missed the mark. The fact that the game was level at half time seemed fair on the balance of play.

Amiri scores a wondergoal, but FSV fail to clinch it

FSV started the better of the two sides again after half time, and had the chance to take the lead three times in just the opening five minutes. A volley from Onisiwo landed on the top of the net (46’), then Rönnow saved from close range against Mwene, who had played a swift one-two with Amiri to create the opportunity (50’). Only seconds later, the Union keeper had to be alert once more from the resulting corner, needing to push the curling ball from Nadiem Amiri over the crossbar. However, when faced with the next attempt from Mainz’s January signing, the Danish stopper was rendered completely helpless. Danilho Doekhi saw yellow after fouling Onisiwo 25 yards from goal, and a free kick was awarded. Amiri placed the ball to his right, before striking a sensational effort in the top left-hand corner with incredible finesse (53’). As the half went on, the lead seemed all the more deserved. Chances kept coming, the defence remained solid and the attacking effort did not dwindle. With an hour gone, Onisiwo headed Amiri’s free kick over the crossbar (61’). Although Mainz remained dominant in terms of possession, it was clear that this good spell would need to translate into a second goal to see off their opponents.

The absence of an insurance goal allowed for the equaliser to arrive as the game drew into its latter stages. After a poor start to the second half, a plethora of substitutions saw the visitors get back into the contest. Benes was given too much space on the edge of the Mainz box, shifting the ball onto his right and beating Zentner from 20 yards out to make it 1-1 (75’). Not too much happened in an attacking sense for the hosts after that, for whom Armindo Sieb replaced Onisiwo. The visitors also appeared content with the prospect of a draw, after that eventuality had seemed unlikely up until their goal. The away side came closest to scoring again five minutes before the final whistle, when Jordan skipped past Dominik Kohr before being denied by Zentner from 11 yards (85’). Henriksen reacted again and brought on the two home-grown players Paul Nebel and Nelson Weiper for Caci and Sano. Despite that, it was Zentner who remained busy, needing to tip a shot from Benes over the bar in the 86th minute. Mainz only became dangerous again halfway through the seven minutes of stoppage time, when Sieb let fly from 11 yards, but his strike sailed half a yard above the Union goal (90+3’). The substitute ramped up the heat in the final minutes and created the best and final chance for Burkardt. Rönnow parried Sieb’s shot directly into the path of the 05ers’ captain, who reacted quickly but was unable to direct the ball into the net (90+5’). It was the final chance of a hard-fought match, meaning both teams began the season with a draw.

The next match-up for FSV takes place in Stuttgart during the following weekend, kicking-off at 15:30 CEST on Saturday. Then, 15 days later, Werder Bremen will visit the MEWA ARENA, with the game beginning at 17:30 CEST on 15th September.