Foals pick up a point in Mainz

Borussia drew 1-1 at 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the Bundesliga. Nathan Ngoumou cancelled out Jonny Burkardt’s opener just after half time.

In front of 33,305 spectators, including around 8,000 Borussia fans, at a sold-out MEWA ARENA in Mainz, the Foals made a good start to the match and had more of the proceedings without really threatening in attack. After ten minutes however, the hosts threw off the shackles and controlled the game more and more. On 15 minutes, they took the lead through Jonathan Burkardt with their first real chance of the game.

Following this, the 05ers made life difficult for the Foals with their aggressive style of play and created a number of golden opportunities which Borussia managed to repel as a unit. At the end of half time, head coach Gerardo Seoane’s side improved and began to mount some attacks, again without really carving out any chances.

The Foals made the better start to the second period after switching to a back three at half time. They settled into the game more and were also more dangerous going forward. In the 55th minute, a brilliantly structured attack created the equaliser for Nathan Ngoumou. The game then developed into an open encounter with several good chances for both sides. In the final stages though, during which Dominik Kohr was sent off for a second yellow card, neither side could find the killer blow, and the match ended level.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Gerardo Seoane made three changes to his starting eleven from the 5-2 home win over VfL Bochum last time out. Ko Itakura and Nico Elvedi, both of whom served suspensions against Bochum, returned to the side, as did Franck Honorat. They replaced Joe Scally, Marvin Friedrich and Robin Hack. Stefan Lainer, Itakura, Elvedi and Max Wöber therefore made up the backline in front of goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas. Julian Weigl, Manu Koné and Florian Neuhaus were the midfield, while Nathan Ngoumou, Honorat and Jordan manned the Foals’ attack.

Alassane Plea (bruised foot), Tomáš Čvančara (ankle ligament tear) and Jonas Omlin (rehab) missed out due to injury.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

12’: Mainz take the lead. Burkardt receives the ball from Lee just outside the penalty area and hammers it into the top corner at a speed of more than 100 km/h for 1-0.

24’: Mainz attack with pace and find Widmer, who aims for the far corner. Nicolas gets down quickly though to push it away. Weigl then clears it for a corner.

25’: From the following corner, Itakura forces his own ‘keeper into another sensational stop.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

55’: The Foals equalise! After winning the ball in midfield, Neuhaus puts an inch-perfect cross into the middle, and Ngoumou is there to head home from close range and make it 1-1.

63’: Ngoumou this time puts a cross in from the flank, and Koné heads towards the far corner. Zentner however keeps it out.

83’: Itakura heads a cross just wide.

83’: Mainz’s Kohr is sent off after a second yellow card for dissent.

STATISTICS

Mainz: Zentner – Kohr, Guilavogui, van den Berg – Widmer (Richter 76’), Barreiro, Amiri, Mwene – Gruda (Krauß 68’), Lee (Onisiwo 68’), Burkardt (da Costa 88’) // Unused substitutes: Rieß, Dal, T. Müller, Papela, Ajorque

Borussia: Nicolas – Lainer (Netz 46’), Itakura, Elvedi, Wöber – Weigl, Koné, Neuhaus (Reitz 78’) – Honorat, Ngoumou (Hack 78’), Jordan // Unused substitutes: Olschowsky, Friedrich, Scally, Herrmann, Kramer, Ranos

Goals: 1-0 Burkardt (12’), 1-1 Ngoumou (55’)

Yellow cards: Barreiro, Kohr, Mwene, Henriken / Ngoumou

Attendance: 33,305 (MEWA ARENA)

Referee: Robert Schröder (Hanover)