Mainz pick up bittersweet point at Union Berlin

Mainz will head home from the capital with a point in the bag after drawing 2-2 away at Union Berlin. FSV looked good for the win until the closing stage of the game, when the hosts cancelled out goals from Nadiem Amiri and Benedict Hollerbach with late strikes from Woo-Yeong Jeong and Danilho Doekhi. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the 05ers, not least due to a chance to make it three just before Union got back into the game, missed by Benedict Hollerbach.

Urs Fischer set up his side with three changes to the eleven that drew to St. Pauli on the final matchday of 2025. Stefan Bell comes in for the injured Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Nikolas Veratschnig gets the nod over Kacper Potulski who begins the game on the bench, and new signing Phillip Tietz starts over Paul Nebel.

Stunning goal after nervy opening exchanges

On a frosty afternoon in Köpenick, the action got off to a nervy start on what was hardly an easy surface to run out on, with frequent turnovers of possession between the sides. The hosts took advantage of these fraught early exchanges to create the first big chance of the match. Kaishu Sano lost the ball in his own box, where Rhani Khedira wasted no time in setting up Livian Burcu, although the latter’s effort was drilled inches wide of the far post (6’). The 05ers grew into the game steadily as the clock ticked on, creating a number of chances for the strike partnership of Benedict Hollerbach and Phillip Tietz. The debutant was in the right place at the right time for the next chance, meeting Lee’s delivery with a headed attempt, although the shot was directed straight at Frederik Rönnow, who was able to prevent an early Mainz lead (11’). Hollerbach was the next to be denied by the Union keeper, with a low effort that didn’t do enough to beat the Danish shot-stopper (16’). 

Against an increasingly penned-in Union side, FSV looked more and more like the team on the front foot, whilst also proving defensively compact themselves. On 28 minutes, Amiri, who had been pushing further forward as the game progressed, found himself with space to turn and get an attempt off from 25 yards, a bouncing strike that tested Rönnow. The next attempt from the Germany international was anything but another warning shot. Lee played a simply sensational ball through the lines and into the Berliners’ box, where an equally impressive run from Amiri was timed perfectly to set up a golden opportunity for Mainz’s number 10. He took a single touch to flick the ball into the air in front of him, before producing a finish that left Rönnow with no chance. The volley flew into the back of the net from twelve yards out, and Mainz had themselves a deserved 1-0 lead (30’).

Union came close to cancelling out the opener just moments later, although Burcus’ curling strike managed to miss the target by a good metre (32’). The hosts sought to kick on after conceding the opener, which gave the 05ers an extra degree of space to exploit, although neither side was able to make everything come together as half time approached. Union had two chances to level in quick succession through attempts from Oliver Burke (43’) and Burcus (44’), although a tight miss and an assured Daniel Batz save saw Mainz end the first half one goal to the good.

Union come back despite Hollerbach's first goal

Two unchanged XIs strode out for the second half. The game picked up much as it had left off, with the tough pitch continuing to cause problems for both sides. Union tried relentlessly to find a way through FSV, although struggled to break down the visitors. Mainz showcased their discipline as they waited for opportunities to break in what was a strenuous and combative match. The next big chance fell the Berliners’ way, as Burke latched onto a long ball down the left, and forced Daniel Batz to make an impressive save at the near post (60’). Batz was the man for the moment once again on 64 minutes, denying Burke once again. While Union failed to capitalise on any of their opportunities to level the affair, Mainz managed to make the most of their next big chance to double their lead in the capital. It was once again Lee who set the goal in motion – the South Korea international sent Veratschnig running down the left channel, before the Austrian drilled the ball low across the box to where Benedict Hollerbach lay waiting. The centre-forward struck true to open his Bundesliga account as a 05er and put Mainz two to the good in the process (69’). Hollerbach almost made it a brace just moments later, although his shot from the right-hand side of the box crashed frustratingly off the woodwork. Mainz had missed a chance to put the game practically out of sight, and Union took advantage: Derrick Köhn got the better of Silvan Widmer and sent a cross into the area, where Jeong was able to beat Batz from six yards to halve the deficit on 77 minutes.

FSV made a pair of substitutions right after Union’s goal. Paul Nebel and Armindo Sieb came on for the goalscorers Amiri and Hollerbach. It wasn’t long before Mainz fans once again had to hold their breaths – a poor clearance from Bell landed right at the feet of Andras Schäfer, who chipped Batz from 30 yards to hit the bar, before Andrej Ilic fired the rebound far over the target in what was a real let-off for Mainz (79’). The visitors were tasked again and again with defending Union pressure in the final proceedings, and it wasn’t long before the hosts made the most of one of their opportunities. It was Köhn again who sent a delivery into the box, where Doekhi managed to head the ball onto the underside of the bar and over the line. The Berliners looked closer to grabbing a winner in the final moments. The referee eventually blew the whistle on a draw; a bitter pill to swallow considering the two-goal lead, although considering the performance, a point in Berlin represents another step in the right direction.

The 05ers get back to business on Tuesday evening (20:30 CET) as Heidenheim pay the MEWA ARENA a visit for a midweek affair, before the 05ers head in the direction of 1. FC Köln on Saturday for a 15:30 CET kick-off.