31st matchday Cologne saves hopes: draw with a late penalty in Mainz
Mainz and Cologne played a rough but exciting game in the relegation battle. photo
© Torsten Silz/dpa
1. FC Cologne still has a remaining chance of staying in the league in stoppage time. In Mainz, viewers will experience a real crime thriller in the relegation battle lasting more than 100 minutes.
1. FC Köln can continue to hope for salvation from the seventh relegation in the club’s history. The penultimate team drew 1-1 (0-1) in the Bundesliga basement duel at FSV Mainz 05 and is still five points behind their rivals in the relegation zone three game days before the end of the season.
In front of 33,000 spectators, Leandro Barreiro gave Mainz the lead in the 29th minute. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Florian Kainz equalized with a penalty kick. Luca Waldschmidt (48th) had previously missed a penalty. Theoretically, a victory was also possible for Cologne, but with 23 points they are still able to stay in the league. However, the distance to the safe bank is seven points. Mainz, who have 28 points, lost Phillipp Mwene with a red card shortly before the end.
Turning point of the game after 20 minutes
Cologne started well in the game, which both sides declared to be the final, and set the first offensive accents. Mainz seemed a little surprised by this and needed some time to find their rhythm.
After two promising shot attempts by FC midfielder Denis Huseinbasic, which were unsuccessful, the home team had their first big chance of the game after 20 minutes. Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe defused a deflected shot from Sepp van den Berg with a strong save.
The scene marked a turning point, as the 05ers increasingly took control of the action and consequently took the lead. After a ball was intercepted in midfield, Nadiem Amiri passed perfectly into Karim Onisiwo’s path. His shot deflected Schwäbe directly to the feet of Barreiro, who just had to push in.
Mainz followed up and could have increased it to 2-0 just four minutes later, but Jonathan Burkardt tipped the ball over the crossbar of the Cologne goal from close range. It wasn’t until the end of the first half that the guests picked themselves up, but were too harmless in attack. The only time Mainz were in danger was when Steffen Tigges shot in stoppage time.
Waldschmidt’s penalty shot wide of the goal
The second round began with excitement. Just 90 seconds after the restart, referee Benjamin Brand pointed to the penalty spot. Cologne’s Faride Alidou was fouled by Anthony Caci in the Mainz penalty area. But Waldschmidt put the ball next to the post and missed the equalizer.
Despite this mishap, FC were now more present again and took more and more control in the middle of the second half. The home side, where Onisiwo left after just under an hour with a painful finger injury, increasingly went on the defensive. With luck and skill and a strong keeper Robin Zentner, the 05ers survived some difficult situations. However, he then caused the second penalty in a save. This time it wasn’t Waldschmidt who took care of the ball again, this time it was Kainz. He kept his nerve and converted safely before Mainz had to finish the game even when they were outnumbered.
dpa
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