In the first game under new coach Urs Fischer, the 05ers have to play with one man less for half an hour in the Conference League at Lech Posen.
1. FSV Mainz fought to a 1-1 (1-1) draw in the Conference League game at Lech Posen. Sota Kawasaki gave Mainz the lead shortly after his substitution (28th minute), Mikael Ishak equalized with a penalty kick (41st). Nikola Veratschnig was shown a yellow-red card in the second half (66′). With ten points from five games, Mainz are in eighth place and have a good chance of reaching the round of 16.
Fischer’s series against Posen ripped
For the new Mainz coach Urs Fischer, who took over the team after the separation from Bo Henriksen and a game under interim coach Benjamin Hoffmannit was already the fifth encounter against Lech Poznan. In the 2015/2016 season, the Swiss met the Poles four times with his then club FC Basel in Champions League qualification and the Europa League and celebrated four victories. This series is now broken.
The currently seventh place in the Polish league started the game energetically and with more possession of the ball. The Mainz team, on the other hand, acted from a secure defensive position. The initial phase was characterized by intense duels in midfield. After ten minutes, Nikolas Veratschnig made the first offensive statement, but Poznań keeper Bartosz Mrozek was able to parry his powerful shot from a half-left position.
On the other hand, Pablo Rodriguez’s shot was blocked by the Mainz defense (13′). After around a quarter of an hour, goalkeeper Daniel Batz saved the 05ers from falling behind. Ishak headed a half-court cross from Luis Palma towards the goal from close range, but Batz prevented the impact with a strong reflex (16th).
Poznan was the more active team, while Mainz waited for moments of transition. However, the 05ers often took too long to move up or lost the ball too quickly. In addition, Silvan Widmer had to be replaced shortly afterwards due to injury. Sota Kawasaki came into play for the captain – and the Japanese delivered immediately. After a cross from Benedict Hollerbach, the 24-year-old benefited from a coordination problem and scored his first goal for Rheinhessen. Kawasaki was on the pitch for just 84 seconds.
Hollerbach’s goal disallowed
The lead seemed to be an initial spark for the 05ers. Shortly afterwards, Nelson Weiper hit the crossbar and Hollerbach scored to make it 2-0, but the offensive man was offside before his header. The video referee correctly overturned the goal (32′). And Posen was suddenly back in the game and pushing for the equalizer.
Batz initially prevented the equalizer, but after the subsequent cross, Kawasaki hit Palma minimally on the knee and referee Andrei Chivulete pointed to the spot – a controversial decision. After an agonizingly long review it stayed that way, Ishak didn’t miss the chance and chipped the ball into the goal to make it 1-1. At the end of the first half, Mainz put more pressure on again. But both Hollerbach (45th + 2) and Veratschnig (45th + 3) failed because of Posen’s keeper Mrozek.
Fog and confusion lack precision
The first goal in the second half belonged to Mainz. But Paul Nebel’s long-range shot went just a meter past the corner (50′). Five minutes later, Veratschnig missed the goal with his header from a promising position. There was hardly anything left from Posen on the offensive in this phase.
Then the 05ers brought the opponent back into the game. Veratschnig, who had already been warned, held onto his opponent and had to leave the field with a yellow-red card (66th). Posen promptly reappeared in the Mainz penalty area, but by joining forces a dangerous situation was defused (69′). A minute later, Batz made another save, widening against Rodriguez and winning the one-on-one situation.
Lots of chances, no goals
Mainz retreated outnumbered, left possession of the ball to the Poles and waited for a counterattack. There was rarely any relief, instead the Rheinhessen wanted to secure one point. In one of the few Mainz attacks, Hollerbach missed from 18 meters (85th). Posen ran and found little to do against the guests’ well-positioned defense – but still had chances. Ishak had another dangerous shot, but Batz was there too (86′), Leo Bengtsson headed the ball next to the goal (89′). Then a misunderstanding between Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Batz almost gave the hosts a lucky punch. He almost fell on the other side. But William Böving’s shot after a Poland mistake went wide (90+2). So it remained a fair draw until the final whistle.
Mainz has to go to FC Bayern
In the Bundesliga, the away game at FC Bayern awaits the 05ers on Sunday (5:30 p.m.). Next Thursday (December 18th) the Rheinhessen will host the Turkish club Samsunspor at the end of the league phase in the Conference League. The game kicks off at 9 p.m.
