After the crazy duel with Werder Bremen, the professionals at FSV Mainz 05 could not be happy about the proud series of eight games without defeat.
The 2:2 (0:0) against the promoted team felt like a defeat for the Rheinhessen on Saturday. The mood was corresponding, although the 05ers, as eighth in the table with 41 points, are still in the race for an international starting place.
“It shouldn’t happen twice that you get the equalizer immediately after scoring your own goals,” criticized Mainz sporting director Martin Schmidt after the crazy finale of a largely uneventful game in front of 33,305 spectators. And defender Stefan Bell said: “It’s bitter.”
Ludovic Ajorque put the home side ahead in the 85th minute, which Jens Stage (87th) equalized. After Nelson Weiper’s 2-1 lead (90′), Mainz looked like the winners, but Werder hit back again with striker Niclas Füllkrug (90′). “Of course it feels like shit when you take the lead twice and get the equalizer twice straight away. None of us have experienced anything like that,” said Ajorque.
Bremen well served with one point
FSV coach Bo Svensson was also served. “Inexplicably, we didn’t defend well twice and made the wrong decisions, so we didn’t win,” said the Dane. “From my point of view, it wasn’t a mental issue, but a tactical mistake in both cases. We have to deal with it now.”
In the case of Bremen, on the other hand, feelings of happiness outweighed one point. “The game describes the current status of the team: great morale, great character, strong cohesion, but also weaknesses at the back and front,” said Füllkrug, adding: “Of course, the chronology lets us leave here with a good feeling.”
Werder coach Ole Werner gave a similar assessment of the draw: “We came back twice, so the positives outweigh the negatives. I think the team can carry this experience over the coming weeks.”
It hadn’t looked like such a drama for a long time, because both teams initially neutralized each other. Much of the action took place between the penalty areas as both teams lacked the necessary creativity. Again and again long balls were hit, which proved to be an unsuitable means.
Crazy final phase: Mainz gives up victory
Shortly after the change, the ball was in the Bremen goal, but Mainz’s celebration of the supposed lead came too early. Anton Stach was offside at the end of the game, so the goal didn’t count.
The home side then did more for the game and created a few good opportunities, but these were thwarted by Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka. Above all, the inclusion of Jae-Sung Lee had a positive impact on Mainz. The lively South Korean could hardly be caught and repeatedly initiated dangerous attacks.
And then came the crazy final phase, in which events literally rolled over. First, Ajorque scored with a dry low shot, but Stage countered the Mainz lead with a header.
When Weiper made it 2-1 in the third minute of added time, the game seemed decided. But Werder pulled themselves together again and rewarded themselves with the equalizer with Füllkrug’s 16th goal of the season. “It will give us a boost,” predicted the forward with satisfaction.
