Mainz undone by Bayern’s second-half comeback

A seven-goal thriller at the MEWA ARENA saw 1. FSV Mainz 05 go 3-0 up against record champions FC Bayern München, before a sobering second half saw them ship four goals and walk off the pitch empty-handed. Dominik Kohr, Paul Nebel and Sheraldo Becker stirred the sold-out home crowd into a frenzy, before Nicolas Jackson, Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane struck to complete the Bayern comeback. Mainz could do very little against the visitors’ second-half onslaught, but with three games left, they remain firmly on course to stay in the Bundesliga.

Urs Fischer made two changes to the side that drew in Mönchengladbach, bringing Silvan Widmer and Phillipp Mwene in for Nikolas Veratschnig and Anthony Caci.

FSV put on a show

The opening minutes went as many had expected them to, with Bayern dominating possession and Mainz looking to press and then launch counter-attacks. Neither side created anything noteworthy in and around the penalty area in the first 15 minutes, though. The first chance for the 05ers came from a set piece. Jonas Urbig dealt with Amiri’s corner, but Kaishu Sano reacted quickest and crossed back in for Kohr to volley home to give Mainz the lead (15’). Bayern fielded a heavily rotated side ahead of their upcoming Champions League semi-final clash with Paris Saint Germain and struggled against an aggressive Mainz side. Phillipp Mwene had a chance to make it 2-0, but his effort was saved by Urbig (18’). Bayern’s goalkeeper was kept busy throughout the first half and was forced into a double save to deny Becker and Amiri. It seemed to be a matter of when, not if, the second goal would come – and come it did just before the half-hour mark. Sano won the ball back, launched an attack and played in Amiri, who fired an effort at Urbig. The goalkeeper was equal to it, but was powerless to stop Nebel from picking up the rebound and smashing it home (29’). The scoreline was fully deserved, and the MEWA ARENA was bouncing.

Bayern had their first real chance 40 minutes in after Konrad Laimer found Alphonso Davies at the far post, but his touch was too heavy and his shot could only find the side netting. Mainz then had the final say of the half. Amiri was once again played in behind by Sano and smashed an effort towards Urbig’s near post, which the goalkeeper was equal to. The rebound fell kindly to Becker, who gratefully converted from point-blank range to make it 3-0 (45+2’). Mainz’s half-time lead was fully deserved.

Bayern wake up, Mainz fight back but come up short

Vincent Kompany made two changes at half time, bringing Michael Olise and Harry Kane on for Aleksandar Pavlović and Luis Díaz. That changed little to start the half, as the first chance fell to the 05ers, with Becker testing Urbig from distance. Bayern hit straight back and found Nicolas Jackson in behind, but Batz was there to make his first save of the game. Jackson would not squander his next chance, though. Olise released Laimer down the right and his perfectly weighted cross found Jackson unmarked in the box, who gave Batz no chance. It was the nightmare start for the 05ers, but they refused to let it unsettle them. Kaishu Sano then had an effort of his own, but his shot went over. Just before the hour mark, Kompany brought Josip Stanišić and Jamal Musiala into the game.

It was now a completely different game from the first half, as Bayern refused to accept defeat. The record champions pinned Mainz in their own half for long spells. Despite the pressure, clear-cut chances remained few and far between. Bayern’s individual quality can often be enough to decide matches. This proved true once again. Seventeen minutes from time, Phillipp Mwene gave Olise too much space on the right. The attacker shifted the ball onto his stronger left foot and curled home in trademark Arjen Robben fashion to make it 3-2 (73’). Mainz now looked to be running out of energy, despite further substitutions. Two goals in two minutes then completed the comeback for the visitors, as Musiala and Kane both scored somewhat fortunate goals.. William Bøving and Nelly Weiper were brought on for the final few minutes, but a real late push never came to fruition. The final chance came in the 96th minute, as Sano flashed an effort just wide of the post.

Mainz may not yet be mathematically safe from relegation after this defeat, but their position remains strong ahead of next Sunday’s trip to FC St. Pauli. With an eight-point cushion over their opponents and only three games remaining, survival looks all but secured.