Zero fifter in the bad luck of injury
© Imago
Eintracht Frankfurt missed the early qualification for the Champions League at the 1st FSV Mainz 05. At the end of the 32nd match day in the Bundesliga, the FSV and Eintracht separated 1: 1 (0: 1) in the derby.
While the Frankfurters still have very good chances of a starting place in the premier class as the third in the table and five points ahead of fifth place, the dream of Europe for FSV threatens to burst despite a good performance. For the Mainz, the draw was the seventh winless game in a row. The gap to sixth place, which would be enough to participate in the playoffs of the Conference League, is two points.
Rasmus Kristensen put the Eintracht in the heated Rhein-Main-duel in front of 33,305 spectators (16th minute). National striker Jonathan Burkardt saved the Mainz with his goal after the change of sides (57th).
The FSV had to accept the first setback before the start of the game: Stamm keeper Robin Zentner was at short notice due to muscular problems in the thigh and had to be replaced by Lasse. Despite the goal, the 23-year-old delivered an impeccable job.
The bad luck of injury for the Mainz continued just a few minutes after the kick -off. Defender Dominik Kohr slipped away without the opponent’s action and twisted his left knee, so that he had to leave the field with a thick bandage and supported by team supervisors. For Kohr, Stefan Bell came into the game.
And it came even worse for the home side. In the 16th minute, Kristensen made it 1-0 after an exemplary attack and a perfect pass from striker Hugo Ekitiké. And the 05er? They not only had to digest the goal, but the next injury shock on the defensive. Danny da Costa was also replaced early with thigh problems (25th).
While the Eintracht team presents itself over long stretches of this season, the fans of the Hesse did not matter in the explosive duel with Mainz. After about half an hour, the Eintracht supporters threw in a corner of the 05 paper balls and also hard objects such as lighters towards the corner flag and Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri, who wanted to carry out the standard.
Referee assistant Robert Wessel was even hit by a bar. But he could continue. The stoppage time in the first half was a whopping eight minutes due to the campaign. In this Jae-Sung Lee hit the supposed equalization, but the jubilation of the increasing hosts was only short-lived because the South Korean was minimally offside.
After the change of sides, both teams initially acted; until Burkardt was a little out of nowhere and scored his 16th goal in this Bundesliga season. In front of him, no other Mainz player had succeeded in the upper house.
After compensation, Mainz wanted more. The team of coach Bo Henriksen had more game control and was much more active. The Frankfurters lurked on counterattacks. However, a lifter from Ekitiké landed over the goal and a huge chance after a new counter (88th) the Frenchman awarded it, so that it remained in the draw. Also because Burkardt set a good option (90th) next to the post.