Ten-man Mainz stun Eintracht Frankfurt
Mainz continued their good form with a 3-1 win at neighbours Eintracht Frankfurt thanks to a Paul Nebel brace, despite a first-half red card for Nadiem Amiri.
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-3 Mainz
Goals: 0-1 Santos og. 15’, 0-2 Nebel 27’ (assist: Bell), 0-3 Nebel 58’ (assist: Lee), 1-3 Kristensen 75’ (assist: Brown)
Red card: Amiri (21’)
Frankfurt came into the match hoping to bounce back from a four-game winless streak in all competitions, while Mainz were aiming to build on their impressive recent form, including a victory over league leaders Bayern Munich.
Bizarre start and early red card
The match began with Frankfurt on the front foot, as Ellyes Skhiri fired just over the bar in the opening minute. However, the game took an unexpected turn in the 15th minute when Mainz took the lead in bizarre fashion. A risky pass from Kauã Santos put Skhiri under pressure, resulting in an unfortunate own goal that left the Frankfurt faithful stunned. The drama intensified further in the 21st minute when Mainz captain Nadiem Amiri received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Skhiri, leaving the visitors with 10 men for over an hour.
Nebel doubles the lead
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Mainz incredibly doubled their lead in the 27th minute. Nebel unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from outside the box that took a slight deflection off Robin Koch, wrong-footing Santos and finding the back of the net. Frankfurt tried to respond, with Rasmus Kristensen hitting the crossbar from a corner, but Mainz's resolute defence held firm. The hosts dominated possession and created numerous chances, with Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitiké both coming close, but their finishing let them down as they went into the break trailing by two goals.
Frankfurt's frustration grows
The second half saw Frankfurt come out with renewed determination, with Dino Toppmöller making tactical changes. Can Uzun and Hugo Larsson were brought on to inject fresh energy into the attack. However, their efforts were continually thwarted by Mainz's stubborn defence and their own profligacy in front of goal. The hosts' frustration reached new heights in the 58th minute when another defensive error led to Mainz's third goal. Santos first gave away possession and then spilled a Jae-sung Lee shot, with Nebel on hand to sweep home his second of the match, putting Mainz in a commanding position despite being a man down.
Late consolation not enough
Frankfurt continued to push forward, creating chance after chance, but found Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner in inspired form. The hosts finally broke through in the 75th minute when Kristensen headed home from a corner, giving the home fans a glimmer of hope. However, despite their relentless pressure and a flurry of late opportunities, Frankfurt couldn't find another goal. Mainz held on for a remarkable 3-1 victory that moves them up to fifth with three games left to play on Matchday 15.
Player of the Match: Paul Nebel
Nebel's outstanding performance was instrumental in Mainz's unexpected victory. The young midfielder showed remarkable composure and clinical finishing, scoring twice despite his team being reduced to 10 men. Nebel's first goal, a well-struck effort from outside the box, gave Mainz a crucial two-goal cushion. His second, capitalising on a Frankfurt error, effectively sealed the win. Beyond his goals, Nebel's work rate and tactical discipline were crucial in helping Mainz maintain their advantage against a dominant Frankfurt side.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Frankfurt 3.56 - Mainz 0.59
Fastest player: Omar Marmoush (Frankfurt), 35.29 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-2 by Paul Nebel (Mainz), 6 percent
Most pressed player: Nathaniel Brown (Frankfurt), 17 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Oscar Højlund (Frankfurt), +1.21
Fantasy Heroes: Paul Nebel (Mainz, 466 Points), Rasmus Kristensen (Frankfurt, 321 Points), Robin Zentner (Mainz, 291 Points)
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