Goals from Lee & Nebel secure hard-fought win over St. Pauli

The MEWA ARENA looked perhaps more than colourful than ever for this year’s carnival matchday and the Mainz fans were able to go home even happier after watching their side defeat FC St. Pauli 2-0 in a hard-fought affair. Jae-sung Lee profited from a rebound to prod home from close range before Paul Nebel added a gloss to the score line with the final kick of the afternoon. Although the visitors looked closer to finding the go-ahead goal in the first half, FSV improved as the match went on to secure a deserved win in the end, which sees them move onto 38 points.

05ers fortunate to survive St. Pauli pressure

Bo Henriksen opted to name the same starting line-up against St. Pauli as he did last time out when his side won 2-0 away in Heidenheim. There atmosphere was vibrant in every sense of the word ahead of kick-off, with fans dressed in all colours of the rainbow.

The team were similarly kitted out in this year’s colourful carnival shirt; however, the visitors looked to spoil the party early on and a first effort via Pauli defender Eric Smith’s free-kick from 20 yards out sailed just over (2’). FSV looked to gain control of proceedings, having more of the ball, but FC St. Pauli were by far the more threatening side in the opening stages. Noah Weißhaupt came too close for comfort from a Mainz point of view when he struck the inside of the left-hand upright (6’). The visiting team looked promising every time they neared the Mainz defensive third, putting FSV under pressure with quick transitional play. The 05ers’ keeper Robin Zentner needed the assistance of his back line to prevent Johannes Eggestein from getting a strike away at the last second (15’).

The hosts were unable to keep tabs on their opponents, with the pace of the game remaining high. That franticness was one of the factors in the coming together between Moritz Jenz and Elias Saad in the Mainz box, with referee Felix Zwayer initially pointing for a spot kick without hesitation. However, after VAR intervened, suggesting the official have a second look on the pitchside monitor, the decision was overturned (22’).

Mainz were able to breathe again but still no chances had come the way of the hosts with half an hour played. The forward line of attacking products Jonny Burkardt, Nelson Weiper and Paul Nebel, who had performed so well as a collective in Heidenheim, had little joy against the back three of St. Pauli. Fast-paced counter-attacks continued to pose a threat at the other end and Saad once again appeared in front of Zentner, but the shot stopper was able to defuse the situation (34’). It would take until the 36th minute for Mainz to record their first shot on target but Anthony Caci’s strike from 16 yards out was straight down the throat of Nikola Vasilj. The 05ers were likely content to go into the break all square but there was still plenty of room for improvement in the second period, especially in terms of the play in possession.

Great display of fight earns victory 

FSV emerged for the restart having made a change up top, bringing on Jae-sung Lee for Nelson Weiper, with the South Korea international taking up a birth on the left-hand side of attack. That did little to change the story early on, though, with Mainz continuing to struggle to create chances. Another attempt on goal was registered in the 60th minute by Jonny Burkardt, but again Vasilj was able to gather easily. Nevertheless, the home side were now having much more success when it came to stopping the visitors efforts to counter. Andreas Hanche-Olsen entered the fray in the 65th minute in the hope of helping the team continue to do so, replacing Kohr.

Just as it looked as if no goals would arrive, the 05ers scored out of the blue. Visiting keeper Vasilj found Nadiem Amiri’s strike from 20 yards out too hot to handle, spilling it out into the danger area and right at the feet of Lee, who poked the ball home to hand FSV the 1-0 advantage (67’). The lead provided Henriksen’s side with fresh impetus and they suddenly pressed with more vigour. Burkardt was brought off shortly afterwards, with Armindo Sieb coming on in his place. Up until that point of the second half, the Kiezkicker had created little of note and on 78 minutes it was Jackson Irvine who had St. Pauli’s first chance since the break but he headed just over the crossbar. The hosts did not let up and had their next opportunity a minute later, although Sieb saw his shot from 22 yards narrowly miss the right-hand corner of the goal. Both sides had further chances, with Eggestein first just failing to make a proper connection with the ball from a promising position (82’). The visitors did everything in their power during the five minutes of stoppage to rescue a point but it was ultimately the 05ers who would net the goal to seal things. Nebel slotted home coolly with the last kick of the game to make sure all three points remained in Mainz.