Mainz U19s are German champions after win against Dortmund

Mainz 05 under 19s are German champions! Head coach Benjamin Hoffmann’s side made history at the MEWA ARENA on Sunday afternoon when they defeated Borussia Dortmund to win the U19 Bundesliga for the first time since 2009 and just the second time in club history. In front of a corwd of 15,705, Lovis Bierschenk gave Mainz the lead in the 51st minute, before the game really heated up in the final stages. William Campbell equalised for BVB in the 83rd minute, before an impressive effort by Nelson Weiper led to a BVB own goal to restore the lead three minutes later. At the other end, Paris Brunner replied almost instantly and levelled the scores again at 2-2 (87’). Therefore, the two sides headed into extra time, where substitute Aiman Dardari put Mainz ahead for the third time (112’). In the final minutes of the game, Grigorijs Degtjarevs put the icing on the cake when he put the ball into the back of an empty BVB goal to make it 4-2 (120’ +4).

Pre game

Benjamin Hoffmann made one change to the team that faced 1. FC Köln in the semi-final second leg. Louis Babatz was named in goal, replacing Aki Koch who missed the game through suspension..

Mainz enjoy the better start

As hoped for in a final, the game was intense and fast-paced from the start. Brajan Gruda caused problems for the Dortmund defence and Dennis Kaygin registered an early first shot (3’). At the other end, Dortmund looked to make a quick start and had an effort through striker Julian Rijkhoff, but it came to nothing (5’). Mainz took early control of the flow of the game, but the best chances came to the visitors. BVB’s Bamba dribbled past a couple of defenders on his way into the box, before seeing his shot saved by Babatz (18’).

Mainz control the play but chances at both ends

Dortmund came into the game a little more after that, but it was Mainz’s time to attack, particulary on the counter. A quick transition ended with a Kaygin shot that was blocked (21’), before Weiper missed the target from close range after a great cross from Justus Götze (24’).

Mainz continued to apply the pressure and came the closest yet to opening their tally for the day. Maxim Dal shot from the edge of the area and saw his effort ricochet back off the crossbar. Weiper hit the rebound first time on the half volley from a similar position but missed the target narrowly. (28’). At the other end, BVB threatened from a corner kick, but the Mainz defence deal with the danger after a brief scramble (30’). A couple of efforts from Kaygin (42’, 45’) and a shot from Dal (44’) weren’t enough to break the deadlock and the two sides went into the break level.

First half photos

Bierschenk gives Mainz the deserved lead

Similarly to the first half, the second half began with Mainz controlling the play. Substitute Ivan Martinovic had a long-range effort saved (47’) before a Götze cross wasn’t met in the area (49’). Shortly afterwards, however, the home side were deservedly ahead. Weiper got into the area on the left and shot across goal, his effort hitting the far post and bouncing into the path of Bierschenk, who kept his cool to slot home (51’). Dortmund tried to respond but the best chances fell Mainz’s way, including another effort from Bierschenk before a deflected Kaygin cross caused problems. Weiper came close to doubling the lead with a header from a free kick (71’).

Dramatic end to 90 minutes

While Mainz seemed to be doing a good job of seeing their lead out over the 90 minutes, last year’s champions finally managed to tie the game late on. A long ball forward deflected into the air and reached Campbell at the far post, whose looping ball evaded backpedalling keeper Babatz and a Mainz defender and bounced over the line (83’). Mainz responded well to the setback and were rewarded soon after. After a cross from the right found Weiper, who tried a backheel flick and his effort was saved by the goalkeeper, but the rebound hit BVB captain Nnamdi Collins and deflected into the back of the net (86’). The celebrations died down almost instantly, however. Straight from kick-off, BVB sent the ball long and forward Brunner capitalised on some poor defending to lob Babatz with a first-time effort and send the game into extra time (87’).

Second half in photos

Dardari with the winner

Once again, it was Weiper who came closest to giving his side the advantage in extra time, but had his shot saved by Kirsch (99’), before Dardari hit the side netting five minutes later. At the other end, Babatz saved a shot from Rijkhoff (101’) and the first half of extra time ended goalless. BVB had the biggest chance to take the lead at the start of the second half when Campbell hit a Tom Rothe cross first time and struck the crossbar (106’). Mainz were finally ahead again in the 112th minute when Dardari volleyed Götze’s cross into the back of the net. Bierschenk and Gruda could have put the game beyond doubt, but their missed chances went unpunished as Dortmund’s Collins shot wide froma decent position (116’). With Dortmund throwing everyone forward at a late set piece, substitute Degtjarevs hit on the break and knocked the ball into an open goal from outside the area to make it 4-2 with just seconds left on the clock (120’+4).

Photos from extra time

Euphoria at full time

The bench erupted upon the sound of the final whistle. Substitutes, coaches and staff stormed onto the field and celebrated together with the players, while the fans watched on, serenading their champions from the stands.

1. FSV Mainz 05 U19 4-2 Borussia Dortmund U19 (aet.)

Goals: 1-0 Bierschenk (51′), 1-1 Campbell (83′), 2-1 Collins (86′, og), 2-2 Brunner (87′), 3-2 Dardari (113′), 4-2 Degtjarevs (120’+4)

Starting XI: Babatz – Götze, Müller (90′ Azakir), Schulz, Dal, Amann (90′ Kalemba), Kaygin (76′ Dardari), Gleiber (45′ Martinovic), Weiper, Gruda, Bierschenk (120’+3 Degtjarevs)

Attendance: 15.705

Referee: Ben Henry Uhrig

Mainz 05 under 19s are German champions! Head coach Benjamin Hoffmann’s side made history at the MEWA ARENA on Sunday afternoon when they defeated Borussia Dortmund to win the U19 Bundesliga for the first time since 2009 and just the second time in club history. In front of a corwd of 15,705, Lovis Bierschenk gave Mainz the lead in the 51st minute, before the game really heated up in the final stages. William Campbell equalised for BVB in the 83rd minute, before an impressive effort by Nelson Weiper led to a BVB own goal to restore the lead three minutes later. At the other end, Paris Brunner replied almost instantly and levelled the scores again at 2-2 (87’). Therefore, the two sides headed into extra time, where substitute Aiman Dardari put Mainz ahead for the third time (112’). In the final minutes of the game, Grigorijs Degtjarevs put the icing on the cake when he put the ball into the back of an empty BVB goal to make it 4-2 (120’ +4).

Pre game

Benjamin Hoffmann made one change to the team that faced 1. FC Köln in the semi-final second leg. Louis Babatz was named in goal, replacing Aki Koch who missed the game through suspension..

Mainz enjoy the better start

As hoped for in a final, the game was intense and fast-paced from the start. Brajan Gruda caused problems for the Dortmund defence and Dennis Kaygin registered an early first shot (3’). At the other end, Dortmund looked to make a quick start and had an effort through striker Julian Rijkhoff, but it came to nothing (5’). Mainz took early control of the flow of the game, but the best chances came to the visitors. BVB’s Bamba dribbled past a couple of defenders on his way into the box, before seeing his shot saved by Babatz (18’).

Mainz control the play but chances at both ends

Dortmund came into the game a little more after that, but it was Mainz’s time to attack, particulary on the counter. A quick transition ended with a Kaygin shot that was blocked (21’), before Weiper missed the target from close range after a great cross from Justus Götze (24’).

Mainz continued to apply the pressure and came the closest yet to opening their tally for the day. Maxim Dal shot from the edge of the area and saw his effort ricochet back off the crossbar. Weiper hit the rebound first time on the half volley from a similar position but missed the target narrowly. (28’). At the other end, BVB threatened from a corner kick, but the Mainz defence deal with the danger after a brief scramble (30’). A couple of efforts from Kaygin (42’, 45’) and a shot from Dal (44’) weren’t enough to break the deadlock and the two sides went into the break level.

First half photos

Bierschenk gives Mainz the deserved lead

Similarly to the first half, the second half began with Mainz controlling the play. Substitute Ivan Martinovic had a long-range effort saved (47’) before a Götze cross wasn’t met in the area (49’). Shortly afterwards, however, the home side were deservedly ahead. Weiper got into the area on the left and shot across goal, his effort hitting the far post and bouncing into the path of Bierschenk, who kept his cool to slot home (51’). Dortmund tried to respond but the best chances fell Mainz’s way, including another effort from Bierschenk before a deflected Kaygin cross caused problems. Weiper came close to doubling the lead with a header from a free kick (71’).

Dramatic end to 90 minutes

While Mainz seemed to be doing a good job of seeing their lead out over the 90 minutes, last year’s champions finally managed to tie the game late on. A long ball forward deflected into the air and reached Campbell at the far post, whose looping ball evaded backpedalling keeper Babatz and a Mainz defender and bounced over the line (83’). Mainz responded well to the setback and were rewarded soon after. After a cross from the right found Weiper, who tried a backheel flick and his effort was saved by the goalkeeper, but the rebound hit BVB captain Nnamdi Collins and deflected into the back of the net (86’). The celebrations died down almost instantly, however. Straight from kick-off, BVB sent the ball long and forward Brunner capitalised on some poor defending to lob Babatz with a first-time effort and send the game into extra time (87’).

Second half in photos

Dardari with the winner

Once again, it was Weiper who came closest to giving his side the advantage in extra time, but had his shot saved by Kirsch (99’), before Dardari hit the side netting five minutes later. At the other end, Babatz saved a shot from Rijkhoff (101’) and the first half of extra time ended goalless. BVB had the biggest chance to take the lead at the start of the second half when Campbell hit a Tom Rothe cross first time and struck the crossbar (106’). Mainz were finally ahead again in the 112th minute when Dardari volleyed Götze’s cross into the back of the net. Bierschenk and Gruda could have put the game beyond doubt, but their missed chances went unpunished as Dortmund’s Collins shot wide froma decent position (116’). With Dortmund throwing everyone forward at a late set piece, substitute Degtjarevs hit on the break and knocked the ball into an open goal from outside the area to make it 4-2 with just seconds left on the clock (120’+4).

Photos from extra time

Euphoria at full time

The bench erupted upon the sound of the final whistle. Substitutes, coaches and staff stormed onto the field and celebrated together with the players, while the fans watched on, serenading their champions from the stands.

1. FSV Mainz 05 U19 4-2 Borussia Dortmund U19 (aet.)

Goals: 1-0 Bierschenk (51′), 1-1 Campbell (83′), 2-1 Collins (86′, og), 2-2 Brunner (87′), 3-2 Dardari (113′), 4-2 Degtjarevs (120’+4)

Starting XI: Babatz – Götze, Müller (90′ Azakir), Schulz, Dal, Amann (90′ Kalemba), Kaygin (76′ Dardari), Gleiber (45′ Martinovic), Weiper, Gruda, Bierschenk (120’+3 Degtjarevs)

Attendance: 15.705

Referee: Ben Henry Uhrig