“Team Red” come from two goals down to win training game

A day before the end of the training camp in Brixental, the Mainz players played an intra-squad friendly in front of around 200 fans at SK Jenbach’s stadium. “Team Red” defeated “Team Blue” 3-2 thanks to goals from Nikolas Veratschnig, Paul Nebel and Aymen Barkok. The team playing in the new away kit had gone ahead within the first 15 minutes via Edi Fernandes and Marco Richter. All players at the training camp featured aside from U23s goalkeeper Maximilian Kinzig.

“It was a good game, everyone gave their all. Karim going off was obviously unfortunate. We hope that it’s not too bad,” said Bo Henriksen after the game. “He was really good today. He made lots of runs in behind, was impressive on the ball, played with real power, worked hard and was extremely dangerous in the final third,” he commented on Onisiwo, who hyperextended his knee in the second half. New signing Kaishu Sano impressed in his first 45 minutes too. “He ran a lot, worked hard and kept things simple. It looked as if it was too easy for him at times. It was good to see him in action and he did well.”

“Team Red” come from behind

“Team Red” pressed their opponents high up the pitch, however they trailed after just eight minutes. Nadiem Amiri’s free-kick ended up with Fernandes and he was able to open the scoring. Richter then reacted quicker than Dominik Kohr after a Robin Zentner save to double “Team Blue’s” lead. “Team Red” were able to equalise before the break though. Veratschnig left Lasse Rieß with no chance (22’), before Jason Amann cleared Veratschnig’s lob off the line, but that set up Nebel and he was able to level proceedings. Only the post stopped “Team Red” going ahead before half time, as Karim Onisiwo was denied by the woodwork.

Instead, Barkok got their third goal after the interval, with Veratschnig recording another assist. The second half didn’t live up to the entertainment of the first one in the Austrian heat, though both teams did still manage to get in the opposition’s box on a regular basis. There were worrying scenes in the 80th minute when Onisiwo hyperextended his knee and couldn’t continue. Despite playing with 10 men for the closing stages, “Team Red” held on to their lead.

1. FSV MAINZ 05 "RED" - 1. FSV MAINZ 05 "BLUE" 3-2

Team Red: Zentner - Kohr (46’ Hanche Olsen), Bell, Dal - Veratschnig, Krauß, Barkok, Caci (46‘ Burkardt) - Sieb, Onisiwo, Nebel

Team Blue: Rieß (46’ Batz) - Schulz, Fernandes, Amann - Da Costa (60’ Mwene), Sano (46’ Lee), Amiri (46’ Leitsch), Gleiber - Richter, Weiper, Gruda (46’ Widmer)

Goals: 0-1 Fernandes (8’), 0-2 Richter (15’), 1-2 Veratschnig (22’), 2-2 Nebel (33’), 3-2 Barkok (49’)

Attendance: 200