Stellar showing from Amiri sets FSV on course for three more points

The 05ers secured three more valuable points on Saturday and deservedly so with a 2-1 win away to Champions League participants Leipzig. The hosts got off to a rapid start when they took an early lead through Xavi. However, Mainz rediscovered their defensive structure before netting a quick-fire after the break to turn the game around. Nadiem Amiri marked an impressive performance with the equalising goal which was followed by Jonny Burkardt’s cool finish to hand his side the lead after just under an hour. Plenty of action was to come before the final whistle, though, as Mainz struck the woodwork on two occasions before Robin Zentner was required in the final minutes to preserve the three points.

FSV head coach Bo Henriksen made two changes from the side that began the victory over St. Pauli. He chose to make one tactical alteration, as Jae-sung Lee took the place of Nelson Weiper as he had also done at half-time last time out. The other difference to the team sheet saw Andreas Hanche-Olsen come into the back three for the suspended Dominik Kohr.

Leipzig start fast

From a Mainz perspective, things could not have begun much worse. Despite captain Jonny Burkardt winning the pre-match coin toss against opposite number Willi Orban which allowed FSV to take the kick-off, the hosts won the ball almost immediately and launched an attack. With not only 60 seconds on the clock, Benjamin Sesko powered his way through the midfield before laying off for Lois Openda. His delivery evaded both Hanche-Olsen and Kaishu Sano in the centre of the penalty area, presenting Xavi with the simple task of rifling home from just six yards out (1’). The 05ers were fortunate to not go two behind in a high tempo opening few minutes. Fluid play around the visitors’ box from the home team created another good opportunity, as Ridle Baku and Xavi linked up before the latter played an incisive ball for Amadou Haidara; however, the midfielder lacked the requisite the requisite precision in his finish, sending his attempt wide of the post from a good position.

The 05ers realised at that moment that they needed to up it in order to get a foothold in the game. They did at least find their regular defensive stability shortly afterwards and the hosts failed to continue any major chances of note during the period that followed. The away side gradually grew into the contest and had the better of both the possession (53%) and successful tackles (60%) statistics to show for it on 35 minutes. Henriksen’s side had to remain alert to potential turnovers, since Leipzig were constantly looking for opportunities to hit on the break.

Leipzig turned up the pressure again just before the break, with a fine one-two between Xavi and Arthur Vermeeren requiring impressive awareness from Hanche-Olsen to clear (42’). The 05ers’ best chance of the opening period arrived on the head of Jae-sung Lee following Anthony Caci’s deflected cross. The South Korean’s effort just sailed over, though. FSV may have gone into the break behind but were nevertheless aware of the fact that a higher-intensity performance could produce results against a team who may still be feeling the effects of playing already in midweek.

Fresh impetus from the 05ers turns the game on its head

Neither coach opted to make a change at half-time but it was the away team who emerged with added vigour and focus after the restart. They were also nearly as rapid in finding an equaliser at the beginning of the second period as the hosts had been in going ahead at the start of the match. Paul Nebel initially found Peter Gulacsi in the way of his effort after a swift combination with Burkardt, but he kept his concentration to create the leveller moments later. Sano won the ball back just outside the Leipzig box before Caci played Nebel down the right. He picked out Amiri perfectly in the middle and the midfielder never looked like missing from 10 yards out (52’). Suddenly, FSV were in complete control of play and could have had more of a control on the score line too in the 55th minute, but Lee once again saw his header sail over, this time from 18 yards out following a Danny da Costa cross. Not to worry, though, since Burkardt was able to keep his cool in front of goal when received his big chance, as is often the case. On his supposedly weaker left foot, he slotted past Gulacsi from 11 yards out to complete the turnaround (58’). From the restart until the 70th minute, it had been one-way traffic from Mainz and Sano could have capped off a super second-half display with a goal, but his attempt headed only just over after Caci’s lay-off.

Ultimately, if things had gone differently in the closing stages, the 05ers may have ended up ruing missed opportunities after hitting the post twice in the space of two minutes. Burkardt first struck the upright when Sano played him in (74’), before Amiri managed the same following some fine footwork to open up the chance for himself. The ball flashed past Burkardt too fast for him to divert home on the rebound (75’). That turned out to be the striker’s final involvement as Henriksen made his first move to bring Weiper on up top for Burkardt, who had given everything he had as ever. Leipzig sought a way back into the game but a Baku shot from nearly 30 yards out on 78 minutes caused little concern for Zentner. With the hosts also looking to get points on the board in the hunt for Champions League qualification, things became ever more focused on defending for Mainz as Leipzig looked to up their attacking pressure once more. FSV remained camp in their own third of the pitch as they attempted to defuse deliveries into the area but the only real action required from Zentner was a finger-tip save to turn over a prodded effort from Sesko in the 89th minute.

The final whistle blew minutes later to confirm a sixth away win of the season and move FSV up to fourth in the standings, at least until Sunday. After 24 rounds of fixtures, the 05ers have 41 points to their name and will be hoping to add to that tally on Friday when they travel to face Borussia Mönchengladbach (20:30 CET).