Mainz 05 has been in a relegation zone for a long time this season. But on the last match day in Wolfsburg, an impressive rescue was achieved without relegation and long tremors.
FSV Mainz 05 will also play in the Bundesliga next season. A 3-1 (1-1) win at VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday crowned an impressive comeback by the relegation candidate, who had already been lagging behind at times. After nine games without defeat, the Mainz team saved themselves in the end without having to go into relegation and also without long tremors on the last match day.
Because Wolfsburg’s early lead through Kevin Paredes (18th) was equalized by Brajan Gruda just six minutes later (24th). And even when main rivals Union Berlin took the lead in the parallel game against SC Freiburg, it only took three minutes for Mainz’s own team to make it 2-1 thanks to Liverpool loanee Sepp van den Berg (71′). Jonathan Burkardt made it perfect to stay in the league shortly before the end (85th).
After this third goal, Mainz’s rescuer Bo Henriksen almost ran to the corner flag and fell into his players’ arms cheering. When the Danish coach took over this team in February after the 21st matchday, they were second to last in the table and were still nine points behind the saving 15th place.
Wolves squander the lead again
But with the emotional Henriksen, Mainz only lost 2 of 13 games and sparked a new football euphoria in the city. More than 3,000 05 fans traveled to Wolfsburg on Saturday in cars, buses and a special train. At short notice, VfL even released an additional grandstand area just for Mainz supporters.
Wolfsburg’s hospitality continued into the game. The “Wolves” favored the FSV’s equalizer, which was rather fortunate at the time, through a loss of the ball by Lovro Majer and poor positioning by the defensive line. Before this goal, VfL had been the better team. Afterwards, Mainz were there in front of 26,627 spectators.
After Wolfsburg’s next ball loss by Sebastiaan Bornauw, they vehemently demanded a penalty for an alleged foul on Jonathan Burkardt (33′). Belgian national goalkeeper Koen Casteels parried a beautiful shot from Leandro Barreiro in his last game for VfL after nine years (42).
Despite the fact that the “Wolves” had nothing left to worry about at the end of a disappointing season, they continued to put a lot of pressure on the guests in the second half. Because his goalkeeper Robin Zentner was already beaten, defender Dominik Kohr prevented Mainz from falling behind again shortly before their own goal line (57th).
Wolfsburg dominated, but Mainz continued to counter dangerously. Because if the 05ers have internalized something under Henriksen, it is defensiveness and willpower. When van den Berg made it 2-1, three of their players had advanced into the six-yard box. Pure energy! After the final whistle, Mainz were in 13th place – and therefore only for the fourth time this season not in one of the last three places.
Source: Stern
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