05ers Win 4:2 in Eschborn

The 1. FSV Mainz 05 bested the 1. FC Eschborn 4:2 (2:0) in a friendly today. Mainz coach Thomas Tuchel organized the friendly against the Hesse Liga club as a way to keep his non-national side players active (plus a few U-23 talents) during the Bundesliga pause for international matches. The 05ers took the lead in the 11^th minute by way of a goal from Dani Schahin after an assist form Chinedu Ede. Five minutes before the end of the first half, Stefan Bell increased Mainz's lead to 2:0 with a clean-up goal after a free-kick from Christoph Moritz.

Less than five minutes into the second half, a goal from Kevin Hillmannauf put Eschborn on the board for the first time. In the 68^th minute Chinede Edu re-established Mainz's two goal lead. In 75^th Christoph Moritz had another free-kick and this time he slotted home all on his own for the 4:1. The 1. FC Eschborn squad coached by former 05er Dennis Weiland continued to fight. Their efforts paid off in the form of a goal from Salvatore Bari. But that would prove to be the final goal of the match and the 05ers came out on top 4:2.

“This was more than just an exercise to keep the players moving. The idea was to keep everyone in a match rhythm and to give players more active minutes and experience. Eschborn was very ambitious, they played disciplined, and didnt' shy away on defense. But we also had our moments, we played especially well as a team unit in the first half,” explained co-coach Arno Michels after the match.

The positive feelings about winning the friendly match were overshadowed by the injury to Julian Koch. The Mainz defender had to be carried from the pitch around the 60 minute mark due to a shoulder injury. He then was sent to a clinic for further examination. “All of us are concerned,” stated Michels, “it didn't look good, now we have to want and see what they say at the clinic. It must be very frustrating for Julian, he keep having to deal with injuries and has only been back in team training for 10 days after picking-up a bruised foot in the pre-season.” The first reports from the clinic state that nothing was broken only dislocated. The shoulder has already been put back in the proper position. An MRI on Thursday will determine if there are any other injuries.

Mainz 05, 1. Half: Wetklo – Pospech, Bungert, Bell, Fathi – Koch, Moritz, Malli, Ede – Polter, Schahin.

Mainz 05, 2. Half: Wetklo (65 Mathenia) – Koch (58 Fahrenholz), Bungert, Bell, Fathi – Saller, Moritz, Malli, Ede – Polter (75 Bouziane), Schahin.