Both Mainz 05 and Union Berlin could have used a win. In the end, however, they had to settle for a draw.
FSV Mainz 05 and Union Berlin are still struggling in the relegation battle. In the catch-up game on matchday 18 on Wednesday evening, the two clubs played a 1-1 draw in a direct duel.
In a difficult game on a sodden field in Mainz, the hosts took the lead through Jonathan Burkardt in the eighth minute of stoppage time in the first half. But Union hit back even before the break and equalized in the 13th minute of added time through Robin Gosens.
The draw means that Union remains in 15th place in the table with 18 points. The situation is even more precarious for Mainz, who are in 17th place with twelve points and are therefore still in a direct relegation zone.
This is how the game went:
The game on matchday 18, which was originally scheduled for January 19th, but could not take place due to the onset of winter, went lively. And this time too the weather caused problems – the constant rain in Mainz caused large puddles on the pitch, which repeatedly slowed down the ball.
The guests, who had to make do without their suspended coach Nenad Bjelica for the last time, coped better at the very beginning, but Kevin Volland only hit the crossbar with his technically high-quality shot from the outside of the instep (6th). But Mainz was also immediately wide awake: Union keeper Frederik Rönnow, who had returned after illness, had to make several strong saves from dangerous set pieces in the first ten minutes.
The game remained surprisingly attractive on the increasingly swampy terrain. Mainz’s new signing Nadiem Amiri narrowly failed with a free kick (21′), the unfortunate Volland tested the aluminum for the second time, this time the striker hit the right post (39′). In stoppage time, which was extended due to fan protests, the spell was broken: First, Burkardt headed Mainz into the lead after a corner, which Gosens equalized with his volley shot.
In contrast to the sobering 0-1 at home against Werder Bremen last Saturday, the ninth game without a win in a row, Mainz remained dangerous in the second half: Rönnow saved from substitute Silvan Widmer (52nd), Karim Onisiwo missed a terrible one A ricochet shot from Berlin’s Aissa Laidouni created a huge opportunity outside of close range (73′).
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