At the sixth time of asking this season, the 05ers were finally able to celebrate a well-earned first home win this Saturday afternoon, overcoming Borussia Dortmund in the almost sold-out MEWA ARENA. From the 20th minute onwards, Mainz gave arguably their best performance of the season to deservedly defeat the Champions League side 3-1. Emre Can was handed a straight red card after just under half an hour, but that was far from the only factor in the win. Jae-sung Lee, Jonny Burkardt and Paul Nebel, who scored for the first time in the German top flight, netted some wonderfully crafted goals. FSV quickly struck again following Serhou Guirassy’s equaliser to come good for the three points overall. When all was said and done, the 33,000 Mainz fans could celebrate a first home victory since May.
Head coach Bo Henriksen made a solitary change from the team that drew in Freiburg last weekend, bringing in Danny da Costa for Maxim Leitsch, who was out after picking up a knock.
Both teams get the feel for each other before it really gets going
FSV started relatively well in the almost sold-out MEWA ARENA, showing good signs early on, although not creating too much for a while. The same was true of the visitors, who seemed to just about edge the contest after initially feeling things out. However, the Champions League side also failed to create anything of real note. As a result, the clash provided little goalmouth action until the 18th minute, when FSV could, if not should, have taken the lead. Nadiem Amiri’s stylish pass sent Jonny Burkardt running through on the BVB goal, faced solely by keeper Alexander Meyer, but his powerful strike was blazed over the crossbar. Nevertheless, Mainz had certainly made the first mark. Less than 60 seconds later, they were at it again. Amiri’s effort from 25 yards out zipped just wide after he had latched onto a poor clearance from Emre Can, signalling a period in which FSV were having the better of proceedings. What came next for FSV was rather a helping hand, when they were presented with the chance to play against just 10 men from the 27th minute onwards. Can had got himself to the ball before Burkardt, but then his next action was a misjudged tackle on the onrushing Jae-sung Lee, catching the South Korean with an outstretched leg at ankle height. Referee Florian Badstübner did not have to think twice before producing the red card. The resulting free-kick could have handed Mainz the lead, but Lee’s header from Amiri’s perfect delivery landed right in Meyer’s arms (29’).
After a slow start, the final 15 minutes of the first half were to become really turbulent. In the 36th minute, Phillipp Mwene set up the first goal of the afternoon following a storming run down the left flank. The Austrian’s subsequent cross found Anthony Caci at the far post, who then re-delivered into the centre, where the ball was met by the head of Lee four yards out. It was a deserved lead, but not one that would last long. Lee then brought down Guirassy inside the Mainz penalty area just four minutes later. The player who had been fouled picked himself back up to give Robin Zentner, who had seen little action until then, no chance from the spot to make it 1-1 (40’). That goal really sparked the 05ers into life, still winless at home in the current campaign before today. Up until the start of the three minutes of stoppage time, it looked as if BVB might double their tally, as they increased the pressure on the hosts’ goal, although without really creating any more big chances. It was a different story for 05ers, however, who pulled one more first-half trick out the bag in the 48th minute. Nebel and Lee moved the ball down the right and onto the charging da Costa, whose low cross from the baseline was turned home by Burkardt from an acute angle to bring the MEWA ARENA to its feet once more on the stroke of half-time.
An impressive Mwene supplies Nebel
Both teams emerged for the second period unchanged, with Mainz again getting the first shot on target, Meyer saving from Amiri’s volley, after the hosts edged that statistic six to one in the first half (46’). Shortly afterwards, Mwene came close to what would have been only a second-ever Bundesliga goal when he aimed for the near corner following a fine solo run, but the BVB keeper was able to parry for a corner (51’). The wing-back would at least bag an assist just three minutes later. Kaishu Sano had supplied Mwene brilliantly on the left-hand side and the sharp cross that came next found an onrushing Paul Nebel in front of goal. He was determined in scoring his first Bundesliga goal from ten yards out, able to celebrate in front of the home crowd for the first time after making the score line read 3-1 (54’). FSV were now in a commanding position and had control of the contest. After just over an hour, a corner kick from Amiri almost hit the net directly, but Meyer raised his gloves to meet the ball just in time (63’). Every Mainz player gave a strong showing, but one of the most noticeable was that of the chief creator, who almost rewarded himself with a goal of his own in the 72nd minute, but was again denied by Meyer. FSV were much closer to scoring goal number four than the visitors were to getting one back and were yet to register a shot on goal after the restart.
FSV then made their first substitution in the 80th minute, granting club captain Silvan Widmer a few minutes on the pitch. He brought that same enthusiasm with him that each player had possessed since kick-off, even despite Mainz not finding a fourth goal, which had been threatened several times. The Mainz fans in the stands did not care one bit, however. The final minutes were full of energy both on and off the pitch and at 17:22 CET, the first three home points of the season were confirmed and a good place in the Bundesliga standings was ensured going into the third and final international break of the calendar year.
After collecting 13 points from the opening 10 rounds of fixtures, FSV currently sit 10th, with a few games still to be played this matchday. The win hands them some breathing room with regard to the sides at the foot of the table.