Hertha BSC has continued its rise in the Bundesliga. The Berliners fought to a 1-1 draw with 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Friday night.
Coach Sandro Schwarz took a point with him when he returned to his old homeland, but lost the hoped-for win with Hertha BSC in extra time. 1. The long-time player and coach of FSV Mainz 05 had to settle for a 1-1 (1-0) draw with the Berliners at his former club on Friday night despite a deserved lead.
Frenchman Lucas Tousart made it 1-0 for the visitors after half an hour of the opening match of the 7th matchday of the Bundesliga. Anthony Caci scored in the 94th minute to equalize for the 05ers. Unbeaten in three matches, Hertha has collected five points from the three previous games. Mainz went winless in their third home game of the season and left a temporary jump to third place in the table.
Both teams initially refrained from taking any big risks
At Hertha, Suat Serdar had to miss out due to illness, and former Mainz professional Jean-Paul Boetius played for him in midfield. In Mainz, Edimilson Fernandes and Jae-sung Lee replaced the absent Alexander Hack (suspended) and Jonathan Burkardt (injured). Dutchman Delano Burgzorg, who could have been considered as a possible replacement for Burkardt, was not in the team for “disciplinary reasons”, as 05 coach Bo Svensson revealed before kick-off, without wanting to go into details: “It remains. internal.”
Both teams initially refrained from taking big risks, 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) took the first shot. Hertha’s central defender twisted his ankle and had to be replaced at halftime.
Guests remain in the launch
The Hertha team did not hide, but found their way into the attack with a fast attacking trio of Dodi Lukebakio, Wilfried Kanga and Chidera Ejuke. This was rewarded with the opener – thanks to a strong assist from the opposition: Maxim Leitsch from Mainz played the ball to Ejuke’s feet as he tried to clear the ball and was allowed to cross unhindered and nobody in the middle. felt responsible for the scorer Tousart.
With the lead behind them, the visitors kept up the pressure, the eye-catching Ejuke was 2-0 down in the 41st minute. But 05 goalkeeper Robin Zentner reacted strongly. The Mainz team then acted frantically and incorrectly. Burkardt, who came to the stadium on crutches to watch, was lacking as a passer and combo player.
Mainz increased the pressure
After the change of sides, Hertha were lucky that, according to video footage, referee Frank Willenborg gave Marvin Plattenhardt a yellow card. The captain had stepped on Fernandes’ right ankle in an unfortunate action in the open ground.
Mainz increased the pressure as the game wore on – but most of the attacks weren’t really dangerous. Hertha hardly eased forward. It was punished in the end.