Mainz bow out in last 16

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1 June 2023, 05:16 yayınlandı

Mainz have been knocked out of the DFB-Pokal after a 4-0 defeat to FC Bayern in the last 16. The guests did most of the damage in the first half and Mainz struggled to find their feet across the 90 minutes. Nagelsmann’s side were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané. Although Mainz managed to carve out some chances as the game progressed, the Bundesliga leaders dealt with the pressure and put the icing on the cake in the final ten minutes thanks to a goal from substitute Alphonso Davies.

Bo Svensson made three changes from the side that beat Bochum at the weekend. Aarón, Anton Stach and Aymen Barkok came in for Stefan Bell, Karim Onisiwo and Jae-Sung Lee. Newcomer Ludovic Ajorque also made his first start in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday evening.

Bayern started off the better of the two sides and Choupo-Moting and Sané enjoyed half-chances with barely a minute on the clock (1’). Although the home side sat deep during the opening exchanges, Barkok had Mainz’s first chance inside the opening ten minutes after a quick counter attack. His curling effort from the edge of the area, however, failed to test Yann Sommer (7’). Bayern then came close a couple of minutes later when Thomas Müller’s cross was glanced on by Sane to Coman. The Frenchman beat his man and got his shot away, but Dahmen got down well to keep it level (10’). Bayern kept up the pressure and they were rewarded in the 17th minute when Cancelo found Choupo-Moting at the back post with a pinpoint cross from the right-hand-side. The former Zerofiver got a good connection and put the ball past Dahmen to put his side 1-0 up (17’).

The visitors, who went into the game off the back of three straight draws, were spurred on by their early goal and they doubled their lead on the half-hour mark. Coman picked out Müller on the edge of the area with a diagonal ball and the Germany international controlled it well. He then slipped through Musiala on the right-edge of the penalty area and the 19-year-old slotted it past Dahmen with ease (30’). Things went from bad to worse for Mainz when Silvan Widmer was forced off the field in the 41st minute through injury. The skipper was replaced by Danny da Costa. FCB then rounded-off their dominant half in style when Choupo-Moting played through Leroy Sane with a cute back-heel. Sane had no problem tapping it past Dahmen to put his side 3-0 up (44’).

Mainz search for a way back but Bayern retain control

Bo Svensson made two changes at the break with Alexander Hack and Jae-Sung Lee coming on for Aarón and Barreiro. Mainz started the second half much better than they started the first and Hanche-Olsen had a headed chance from a corner not long after the restart (48’). The Norwegian, however, couldn’t quite test Sommer. Danny da Costa then had an opportunity on the edge of the area after a quick counter, but the defender put the ball over the top (55’). Caci came agonisingly close to getting one back for the Zerofivers on the hour-mark, but his curling effort from the right edge of the box just missed the outside of the post. Two minutes later, Ajorque hit the target with a header from a Fernandes cross, but the Bayern keeper dealt with the danger (62’).

Although Mainz were trying to force the issue, Bayern remained solid and looked happy to defend their 3-0 lead. Barkok had the next chance for the hosts but he failed to hit the target with his effort from outside the area (68’). Gravenberch then had a good opportunity for Bayern but Dahmen did well to make the save (77’). Things turned sour in the final ten minutes when Bo Svensson was sent to the stands by the referee (81’), before Alexander Hack was sent off for a second bookable offence (87’). In between the two red cards, Alphonso Davies put the icing on the cake for the guests when he headed home a superb Kimmich cross to make it 4-0 (83′).

Next up for Mainz is a trip to the capital to face Union Berlin (Saturday, 4th February, 15:30 CET), before they welcome FC Augsburg to the MEWA ARENA the following weekend (Saturday, 11th February, 15:30 CET).