FSV secure European qualification

The MEWA ARENA saw an action-packed last fixture of the campaign, with Bundesliga runners-up Bayer 04 Leverkusen having their backs to the wall at the hands of Mainz, who had three goals disallowed but came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw which confirmed the 05ers participation in European competition next season. Paul Nebel put FSV ahead before Patrik Schick’s brace turned the match around shortly after the break. Home-grown striker Jonny Burkardt had the final say, however, scoring his 18th league goal of the season from the penalty spot.

Bo Henriksen made one change to his line-up that started the previous fixture in Bochum, with Robin Zentner able to come back into the side after returning to fitness. Lasse Rieß had deputised for the past two games and now took up a place on the bench.

FSV fly out of the blocks

The MEWA ARENA had reached boiling point even before kick-off and FSV matched the crowd’s energy right from the start of proceedings, playing like a team with everything at stake. The visitors found themselves put under immense pressure inside their own half during the opening stages and the first chance fell the way of the home side not long into the contest. Following Nadiem Amiri’s corner delivery, Andreas Hanche-Olsen sent his scissor-kick volley narrowly over (4’). The pressure continued. Paul Nebel was the next to try his luck but saw his shot blocked. Jonny Burkardt then brought about the subsequent corner (5’). Not even 120 seconds, Hradecky was required to pull off a smart save to deny Burkardt; however, the rebound fell straight to Nebel, who should have stuck his effort away but instead narrowly missed the far post by a matter of inches (7’).

Bayer were able to gain some brief respite but without making any real inroads going forward. FSV carried on setting the tone of the game and appeared to have their due reward on 15 minutes. A long ball from Zentner reached Caci, who played onto Nebel before he sent Kaishu Sano towards the by-line. The Japanese midfielder cut the ball back brilliantly for the onrushing Amiri and he dispatched with confidence from nine yards. However, after a good few minutes of analysis, the VAR decided that Caci had been in an offside position earlier in the move and the match rightly remained goalless.

The first-half drama was only just getting started, though. Jae-sung Lee was the next to have the ball in the net, but the flag was quickly raised this time to rule the goal out after half an hour. The 05ers did not let that set them back and they continued to press on inside the cauldron that was the MEWA ARENA. 30,000 fans once again burst into rapturous celebration just two minutes later when Hanche-Olsen turned home on the rebound after Burkardt’s attempt on goal and Mainz hoped that it would be third time lucky – but no. Referee Tobias Reichel checked this action as well and picked up on a foul from the Norway international due to the fact that Hradecky supposedly had control of the ball with his hand just about on top of it. It was a debatable call; nonetheless, 0-0 was how things remained.

Although, that was not the case for long. Three minutes after that, all was forgotten as the fourth ball to hit the net did count. Amiri reacted at lightning speed to an overturn of possession in the middle of the park, slipping Nebel in on goal. His deflected shot from 11 yards out found the bottom corner to hand Mainz a more than well-deserved advantage (35’). The away side could have levelled the game just before the break and rather out of the blue, but Nathan Tella’s touch was too heavy when one-on-one with Zentner. The hosts had the final word of the first period, however, with Amiri running clean through on goal, only to fire his shot straight at Hradecky to bail out his defence following a loose pass (45+3’). As a result, the 05ers headed into half time with a narrow lead.

Leverkusen turn the tide but Mainz have the answer

While Mainz returned to the pitch unchanged, Leverkusen made two changes at the start of the second period. However, it was starting striker Patrik Schick who was first brought down in the box by Hanche-Olsen before stepping up himself to slot the penalty kick home for 1-1, bringing away side level who had been rather harmless up until this point (48’). The tide had turned, though, and problems soon arose for the hosts. On 54 minutes, the game had completely turned on its head and somewhat inconceivably, at that. After a short corner, Aleix Garcia delivered a whipped cross to the back post where Schick climbed highest to nod in his second in quick succession (54’).

FSV now found themselves behind but did not their intensity levels drop and sought an equaliser which they managed before long. The VAR certainly earned their pay in this one, as they recommended the on-field official go to the monitor to review a challenge on Lee inside the area. Reichel decided there had been a foul committed by Leverkusen’s Arthur and awarded a spot kick, this time for the home team. Mainz’s record Bundesliga scorer Burkardt coolly dispatched to square the game yet again (63’). FSV made their first substitution of a back-and-forth affair after 70 minutes, with Niki Veratschnig having to replace Caci on the right wing after the Frenchman had sustained a knock to the knee.

FSV were heading for a point as the clash entered its closing stages; however, since VfB Stuttgart had taken the lead in Leipzig, this would have been enough for Mainz to reach their target of Europe. Nevertheless, the hosts wanted to wrap things up themselves and despite fewer chance arriving after the break, the last moments of the season served up some fitting final drama. Henriksen introduced club captain Silvan Widmer in the 87th minute before Amiri narrowly missed the opportunity to put his team back in front, directing his shot just wide after superb link-up with Burkardt (88’). Leipzig’s defeat against Stuttgart was soon confirmed, which in turn made sure of Mainz’s first participation in the UEFA Conference League. The party atmosphere in the MEWA ARENA was ramped up one final notch when it appeared Stefan Bell had grabbed a late goal to make it 3-2 but VAR intervened once again and to no-one’s surprise.

At the end of the day, the pure ecstasy of everyone associated with Mainz was not to be taken away. The 05ers will play in Europe next season!