FSV Mainz 05 has reached the round of 16 of an international competition for the first time in the club’s history. At the end of the league phase in the Conference League, the Bundesliga bottom team deservedly won 2-0 (1-0) against the Turkish first division soccer team Samsunspor and gave its new coach Urs Fischer a successful home debut. Against the guests coached by Thomas Reis (formerly VfL Bochum and Schalke 04), captain Silvan Widmer (44th minute) and Nadiem Amiri scored with a hand penalty (49th). the gates.
This means that the Rheinhessen team will avoid the two playoff games in February and will return to the round of 16 on March 12th. After their passionate performance, Mainz, who will host FC St. Pauli in a basement duel on Sunday, can now concentrate on the relegation battle in everyday league life.
In front of 33,000 spectators in the sold-out Mewa Arena – including numerous Turkish fans – the Rheinhessen team started with the momentum of last weekend’s surprising 2-2 draw at FC Bayern Munich. Fischer was able to rely on the returnees Amiri, Dominik Kohr and Paul Nebel.
Goalkeeper Batz prevents a deficit
National player Amiri almost made it 1-0 after eleven minutes, his shot from eight meters was blocked at the last moment. When the home team’s initial offensive gradually faded, Samsunspor almost struck: Daniel Batz, who was standing in between the posts for the injured regular goalkeeper Robin Zentner, saved from Emre Kilinc. The 34-year-old and Mainz were lucky that Carlo Holse then shot the rebound at Kilinc, who was lying on the ground.
Mainz continued to apply pressure against the sixth-place team in the Turkish Süper Lig: goalkeeper Okan Kocuk just managed to deflect a deflected ball from Amiri towards a corner. Jae-Sung Lee also made a big splash, but Widmer made it 1-0: the Swiss shot in from a tight angle.
Former Bundesliga professional Rick van Drongelen gave FSV a perfect start after the break. He blocked a ball with his arm in the penalty area – Amiri converted the penalty to make it 2-0. Referee Mohammad Al-Emara (Finland) interrupted the game for a few minutes because of firecrackers in the visitors’ block. Samsunspor couldn’t gain any more, especially since Mainz’s defense stood securely until the end.
