Trainer Sandro Schwarz took a point with him on his return to his old homeland, but missed the hoped-for victory with Hertha BSC in injury time. The long-time player and coach of 1. FSV Mainz 05 had to settle for a 1-1 (1-0) draw with the Berliners at his former club on Friday evening despite a deserved lead.
Frenchman Lucas Tousart scored the 1-0 for the guests in the opening game of the seventh match day of the Bundesliga after half an hour. Anthony Caci scored in the 94th minute to equalize for the 05ers. Hertha, unbeaten in three games, has picked up five points from the past three games. Mainz remained without a win in the third home game of the season and missed the temporary jump to third place in the table.
At Hertha, Suat Serdar had to pass due to illness, and former Mainz professional Jean-Paul Boetius played in midfield for him. At Mainz, Edimilson Fernandes and Jae-sung Lee replaced the absent Alexander Hack (suspended) and Jonathan Burkardt (injured). The Dutchman Delano Burgzorg, who could have been considered as a possible replacement for Burkardt, was not in the squad for “disciplinary reasons”, as 05 coach Bo Svensson revealed before kick-off, without wanting to go into more detail: “It stays internal.”
Hertha relies on a fast trio
Both teams initially refrained from taking the big risk, safety passes in midfield shaped the picture. Marc Oliver Kempf was able to block the ball at the last moment when Mainz striker Karim Onisiwo (9th) had the first shot. Hertha’s central defender twisted his ankle and had to be replaced at half-time.
The Hertha team didn’t hide, but instead sought their way onto the offensive with their fast attacking trio of Dodi Lukebakio, Wilfried Kanga and Chidera Ejuke. That was rewarded with the opening goal – thanks to the strong help of the opponent: Maxim Leitsch from Mainz played the ball in front of Ejuke’s feet during a clearing attempt, who was allowed to cross unhindered, and nobody in the center felt responsible for the goalscorer Tousart.
With the lead behind them, the guests kept the pressure on, the eye-catching Ejuke had the 2-0 on the foot in the 41st minute. But 05 goalkeeper Robin Zentner reacted strongly. The Mainz team then acted hectically and incorrectly. Burkardt, who came to the stadium on crutches to watch, was missing as a passing station and combination player.
After the change of sides, Hertha was lucky that, according to the video images, referee Frank Willenborg gave Marvin Plattenhardt a yellow card. The captain had stepped on Fernandes’ right ankle in an unfortunate action with the open sole. Mainz increased the pressure as the game went on – but most of the attacks weren’t really dangerous. There was hardly any relief from Hertha forward. That was punished in the end.
