Coach gone, first win here: Under interim coach Siewert, Mainz completely surprisingly beat top team RB Leipzig. For a long time, the 05ers only concentrated on defensive work.
FSV Mainz 05 clinched their first win of the season in the Bundesliga under interim coach Jan Siewert, defeating RB Leipzig after a great fight. The Rheinhessen team won 2-0 (0-0) and ended months of misery.
Jae-sung Lee (76th minute) and Leandro Barreiro (82nd) scored in front of 30,100 spectators and thus provided the much-needed liberation two days after the self-imposed departure of coach Bo Svensson.
For the people of Leipzig, the week ends with another sporting blow. After the defending champions were eliminated from the DFB Cup during the week, coach Marco Rose’s team is in danger of losing touch with the top group in the Bundesliga. A largely lethargic and unimaginative performance was not enough to score a goal – that was punished in the final phase by the merciless Mainz team.
Svensson said an emotional farewell
Things got emotional even before kick-off when the Mainz team said goodbye to Svensson and his assistant Babak Keyhanfar. “Thank you for your commitment, Bo and Babak!” was written on a large banner, and the fans also clapped again for the duo. The sudden departure of Svensson and the affair of Anwar El Ghazi, from whom the club separated on Friday after pro-Palestinian statements on the Internet, caused unusual turbulence in Mainz in recent days. And all of this in the midst of one of the worst sporting crises in years.
Interim coach Siewert, who according to sports director Christian Heidel is also eligible for a longer term, had to manage a staff shortage in unpleasant winds and constant drizzle. Stefan Bell, Silvan Widmer and Brajan Gruda were missing due to injury. After 20 minutes, Josuha Guilavogui, who was only re-signed in September, had to go out – just on his league starting debut for the 05ers.
Leipzig dominates the game, but is hardly dangerous
As expected, Leipzig was the team that dominated the game and had more of the game even without Timo Werner sitting on the bench. Christoph Baumgartner (20th and 25th) and the usually strong Xavi Simons (28th) finished, but it wasn’t really dangerous.
After the substitution, the 05ers fired their first warning shot: Lee took a shot, but goalkeeper Janis Blaswich had no problems. On the other hand, Simons tested Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner with a powerful volley from 20 meters (58′).
A huge chance from Dominik Kohr caused a controversy because two balls were briefly on the field. Mainz continued to defend vigorously, Siewert enthusiastically applauded the defensive actions of his professionals. But things got even better for the 41-year-old: First, Karim Onisiwo broke through on the right and crossed to Lee, who headed in for a completely surprising lead. When Barreiro made it 2-0 just a short time later – and the goal also counted after video review – the game was decided.
Source: Stern
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