VfB denied by late Mainz leveller

Match summary

Sebastian Hoeneß’s team seized control of proceedings at the MEWA Arena from kick-off, dominating possession and creating the first chance as early as the fourth minute when Maximilian Mittelstädt’s shot from a tight angle was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Daniel Batz.

Chance for Undav

The hosts were forced back deep into their own half and were fortunate that Deniz Undav only narrowly failed to connect with a Jamie Leweling cross into the box.

Mainz grew into the game, however, and it soon became a more evenly balanced encounter. Alexander Nübel made a good save to keep out Phillip Tietz’s close-range header after half an hour, while Jae-Sung Lee headed wide of the target from inside the six-yard box a short while later (38’).

Mainz edge in front

Nübel was powerless to prevent the home side going in front just before the break, though, with Lee making amends and heading in from three metres out to put Mainz 1-0 up at half-time.

Nübel impresses

The VfB custodian kept his side in the game in the 55th minute, brilliantly blocking Sheraldo Becker’s close-range effort following a Mainz counter.

VfB fortunate

Hoeneß’s side almost went 2-0 down in the 66th minute when Luca Jaquez’s attempted back pass to Nübel fell short, but Paul Nebel could ultimately only hit the right-hand post with a low drive.

Quickfire double

Although Mainz were on top at his point, VfB turned the game on its head with two goals inside 120 seconds. Ermedin Demirovic equalised at 1-1 in the 76th minute, and Undav completed the turnaround a few seconds later after a counter-attack.

Late equaliser

Mainz snatched a point in stoppage time, however, when Danny da Costa headed in from close range to make the final score 2-2.

Goals

39th minute: Da Costa flicks on a corner to Lee, who nods the ball over the line from close range.

76th minute: Demirovic powers an unstoppable first-time shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

77th minute: Tiago Tomas plays a lovely through-ball for Undav to chase. He bears down on goal and nutmegs the goalkeeper to put VfB 2-1 ahead.

90+1st minute: Phillipp Mwene’s header crashes off the crossbar and Da Costa reacts quickest to the rebound to nudge it over the line.