Both goalkeepers in focus
Mainz was even able to excel on the offensive. After twelve minutes, Lukas Hradecky had to prevent the hosts from taking the lead with a brilliant save. After a low shot by Anton Stach, the Finnish national goalkeeper was there with a lightning-fast reaction.
But Leverkusen also showed what happens when you give them a little space. Robert Andrich forced Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner to do a good job (16′), in return his opponent Hradecky had to fend off Jonathan Burkardt’s shot (17′).
Leverkusen have Fortuna on their side
In the 30th minute, Leverkusen were very lucky. Burkardt and Karim Onisiwo appeared clear in front of Hradecky, but hesitated a moment too long, so Onisiwo was too disturbed after the cross pass to put the ball into the empty goal.
Bayer’s luck was even greater five minutes later. Patrik Schick tried from 22 meters out, but his harmless shot was deflected by Moussa Niakhaté and made it 1-0 for Leverkusen (35′). Schick’s 20th goal of the season.
Schick has to go, Mainz scores
The second half, on the other hand, started extremely unpleasantly for Leverkusen. Schick injured his thigh and had to be substituted (48′). His representative Lucas Alario failed shortly thereafter with a header at Zentner (51st).
On the other hand, Mainz showed its second great strength next to the defensive: the quality of standard situations. After a questionable whistle after an alleged foul by Kerem Demirbay, Aaron Martin scored the Mainz equalizer with a direct free kick from 20 meters (57th).
Alario uses referee excitement
Shortly thereafter, Martin put the ball back in place and a few seconds later the ball was back in the Leverkusen goal. This time, his sharp free-kick cross landed on Onisiwo’s head, who gave the hosts the lead (60′). At least that’s what the people of Mainz thought. Because the next questionable decision prevented the goal. According to the video images, Niakhaté was ruled offside, although the captain did not intervene in the game.
Leverkusen took advantage of this and struck again. After preparatory work by Moussa Diaby, Alario shot uncompromisingly from eleven meters and gave Zentner no chance (74th). Seven minutes later, however, the goalkeeper saved the Argentine’s second goal with a strong effort – and thus gave his team the opportunity to make a comeback.
Luckily for Mainz, it was a late double strike
After a long throw, Jonathan Tah cleared the ball a little too short and Jean-Paul Boetius volleyed it into the goal with outstanding technique – a dream goal to make it 2:2 (84th).
But that wasn’t it, this football spectacle had one final point: In a chaotic situation in the Leverkusen penalty area, Marcus Ingvartsen kept the overview and control of the ball and scored the third goal for Mainz – and the third joker goal of the evening . First and foremost, however, the winning goal for Mainz against the best team so far in the second half of the season.
Mainz has to go to Berlin, NRW duel in Leverkusen
After the fifth home win in a row, Mainz will travel to the capital next Saturday to Union Berlin (February 26, 2022), Leverkusen will have Arminia Bielefeld as guests on the same day.