FSV start pre-season with 5-0 win against Seekirchen

1. FSV Mainz 05 started pre-season with a 5-0 win in their first friendly against Austrian third-division side SV Seekirchen. Goals from captain Silvan Widmer (2), Nadiem Amiri and Armindo Sieb gave the 05ers a clear lead heading into half-time, with Daniel Gleiber scoring the lone goal after the change of ends.  

Afterwards, FSV head coach Bo Henriksen said, “The game was okay, not amazing. It was also tough today. We’re playing Crystal Palace next week, which will be a different game. We’ll be able to see a little bit more then. Today, it was primarily about making sure that no one injured themselves and that everyone was able to play at least 45 minutes and get some minutes under their belts.” 

Both sides needed a few minutes to settle into the match, before the 05ers were able to exert their dominance over the match. In particular, Arnaud Nordin was able to pose a threat via the left flank. SV Seekirchen were also able to mount attacks of their own, primarily after provoking Mainz into losses of possession. The first big chance of the night came for the underdogs, as Fabian Neumayr sent a shot just wide in the 13th minute. The 05ers were then able to take the lead immediately after, as Lasse Rieß’ goal-kick was chased down the wing by Sieb. He broke past the defenders before laying it off for Widmer, who only needed to tap in from close range (14’). Eight minutes later, the Swiss full-back was able to head in a corner from Amiri to double Mainz’s lead (22’). Mainz were in control from then on, letting the ball do the work for them and continuously posing a threat in front of goal. Dominik Kohr and Sieb linked up well, with the latter backheeling a pass to Hyunseok Hong. The South Korean saw his effort saved by goalkeeper Severin Heuberger (33’). The 05ers then added a third, as Ben Bobzien intercepted a misplayed pass and set Amiri through. The latter only had to tap in to make it 3-0 (34’). They then managed to make it 4-0 courtesy of another long goal-kick from Rieß. He picked out Stefan Bell with the pass, with the defender finding Sieb in front of goal (43’). 

Just one goal in the second half 

Henriksen sent out 11 new players for the second half, in what remained a hard-fought and competitive match. The 05ers struggled, however, to create many big chances in front of goal. Seekirchen were defending deep, which meant that Mainz had the bulk of possession. FSV goalkeeper Daniel Batz didn’t have much to do between the sticks. In the 66th minute. Paul Nebel delivered a well-hit cross into the box that was meant for Jae-sung Lee. The South Korean just missed connecting fully with it, but instead collided with the left post. Lee and the Seekirchen both needed treatment but were able to continue on. Chances were few and far between in the second half, with Gleiber managing to net the fifth and final goal of the game in the 79th minute.  

FSV will be back in action against Premier League side Crystal Palace on Tuesday, 29th July, who count former 05er Jean-Philippe Mateta in their ranks (2x 60 minutes, 14:00 CEST at the Hans-Ludwig-Stadion). 

MAINZ 05 - SEEKIRCHEN 5-0

FSV: Rieß (46’ Batz) - Widmer (46’ Caci), Da Costa (46’ Maloney), Bell (46’ Leitsch), Kohr (46’ Schopp), Nordin (46’ Mwene) - Sano (46’ Kawasaki), Amiri (46’ Gleiber) - Hong (46’ Lee), Bobzien (46’ Nebel) - Sieb (46’ Hollerbach)

Goals: 1-0 & 2-0 Widmer (14’ & 22’), 3-0 Amiri (34’), 4-0 Sieb (43’), 5-0 Gleiber (79’)