Hard-fought draw away at Köln

The Zerofivers added another point to their tally on matchday 28 of the Bundesliga season, drawing 1-1 away at 1. FC Köln’s RheinEnergieStadion. The result means Mainz are now unbeaten in nine games, equalling their club record in the top flight. Ludovic Ajorque latched onto a Silvan Widmer cross to deservedly put the visitors ahead after 17 minutes, but they were unable continue in the same vein. Köln looked the better side by the time Dejan Ljubicic netted an equaliser shortly after the restart that ensured the spoils were shared.

Pre-match photos

Head coach Bo Svensson made one change to the starting line-up from the 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen last weekend – Karim Onisiwo was given the nod up front as Marcus Ingvartsen dropped to the bench.

Ajorque on the scoresheet again

The Zerofivers were full of confidence given their eight-match unbeaten run, and took the initiative in the early exchanges in Cologne. Anton Stach had the game’s first shot after eight minutes, albeit a strike that was comfortably wayward of Marvin Schwäbe. The accuracy was on point around ten minutes later though and the deadlock was broken. Captain Silvan Widmer delivered a fizzing cross from the right that was poked home at the far post by the well positioned Ajorque to make it 1-0 with his third goal in as many games (17’).

The hosts were setup with a view to counterattack early in the game, but the Mainz defence, which included Stefan Bell on his 250th Bundesliga appearance, were able to keep Effzeh away from overly dangerous positions. Robin Zentner was finally called into action in the 24th minute by Eric Martel, but it was a routine save for the Zerofivers’ keeper. Kingsley Schindler also drilled an effort wide from a narrow angle (31’).

Mainz ease off, Effzeh grow into the game

The dominance that Mainz had displayed in the first 25 minutes or so was starting to wane now, and Köln were enjoying more of the ball and chances followed. Martel found another opening to shoot from the edge of the box, with the ball whistling narrowly over the target (35’). Zentner then got down well and held onto a daisy-cutter from Linton Maina (43’). He wasn’t needed to deal with a Davie Selke header and an ambitious overhead kick from Julian Chabot from consecutive corner-kicks, before the referee blew for half time to put Köln’s pressure to a temporary halt.

First half in photos

Back on terms shortly after the restart

The second half hadn’t been underway for long when Effzeh punished Mainz’s passive play that had already been creeping in before the change of ends. Ljubicic played a neat one-two with Jonas Hector on the edge of the box, before applying a tidy finish past the helpless Zentner (51’).

Fortunately, the equaliser seemed to give the Zerofivers a jolt, and the match now developed into an open affair. Leo Barreiro was inches away from getting on the end of another teasing Widmer cross on the hour mark, while Florian Kainz’s first-time effort had to be smothered down the other end (63’). A mistake from birthday boy Edimilson Fernandes then caused a real problem with Maina in one-on-one with the goalkeeper, only to drag his shot wide of the far post (70’). A Köln counterattack ended with Zentner able to hold on to a shot from Jan Thielmann (79’), while it was the fence behind the goal that was on the receiving end of Ljubicic’s attempt to net the winner five minutes from time.

Both sides with missed opportunities

Mainz had found themselves on the back foot for much of the second half, but had a stronger end to the match. Ajorque couldn’t quite take advantage of a decent ball in from substitute Aarón (82’), while a header from Barreiro following Jae-sung Lee’s cross two minutes later only missed the target by a yard or so.

Things got a little heated in the closing stages as both teams fought hard to have the final say, but there were to be no more chances as the final score remained 1-1.

Second half in photos

Bayern next to visit Mainz

The Zerofivers will be back at home next Saturday, with FC Bayern Munich the visitors to the MEWA ARENA (15:30 CEST).

The Zerofivers added another point to their tally on matchday 28 of the Bundesliga season, drawing 1-1 away at 1. FC Köln’s RheinEnergieStadion. The result means Mainz are now unbeaten in nine games, equalling their club record in the top flight. Ludovic Ajorque latched onto a Silvan Widmer cross to deservedly put the visitors ahead after 17 minutes, but they were unable continue in the same vein. Köln looked the better side by the time Dejan Ljubicic netted an equaliser shortly after the restart that ensured the spoils were shared.

Pre-match photos

Back on terms shortly after the restart

The second half hadn’t been underway for long when Effzeh punished Mainz’s passive play that had already been creeping in before the change of ends. Ljubicic played a neat one-two with Jonas Hector on the edge of the box, before applying a tidy finish past the helpless Zentner (51’).

Fortunately, the equaliser seemed to give the Zerofivers a jolt, and the match now developed into an open affair. Leo Barreiro was inches away from getting on the end of another teasing Widmer cross on the hour mark, while Florian Kainz’s first-time effort had to be smothered down the other end (63’). A mistake from birthday boy Edimilson Fernandes then caused a real problem with Maina in one-on-one with the goalkeeper, only to drag his shot wide of the far post (70’). A Köln counterattack ended with Zentner able to hold on to a shot from Jan Thielmann (79’), while it was the fence behind the goal that was on the receiving end of Ljubicic’s attempt to net the winner five minutes from time.

Both sides with missed opportunities

Mainz had found themselves on the back foot for much of the second half, but had a stronger end to the match. Ajorque couldn’t quite take advantage of a decent ball in from substitute Aarón (82’), while a header from Barreiro following Jae-sung Lee’s cross two minutes later only missed the target by a yard or so.

Things got a little heated in the closing stages as both teams fought hard to have the final say, but there were to be no more chances as the final score remained 1-1.