Heidenheim secure impressive away win as Mainz struggle with early red card
Marvin Pieringer and Jan Schöppner struck in either half as Heidenheim claimed a 2-0 win at Mainz, with both teams finishing the game with 10 men.
Both teams entered the match with contrasting forms; Mainz had lost just one of their previous 13 Bundesliga games, while Heidenheim were looking to bounce back from two consecutive defeats. Jonathan Burkardt had been in fine form for the hosts, scoring three goals in the season so far, second only to Florian Wirtz among German players in the Bundesliga.
Pieringer puts Heidenheim ahead
The match began with Heidenheim showing early intent, creating several chances in the opening minutes. Their pressure paid off in the 15th minute when Pieringer broke the deadlock, stooping low to meet a Jonas Föhrenbach cross from the left.
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Mainz reduced to 10 men
Mainz's troubles deepened in the 28th minute when Andreas Hanche-Olsen received his second yellow card of the match for a foul on Schöppner. Coming just 22 minutes after his first booking, it left Mainz with a mountain to climb. The red card forced Mainz coach Bo Henriksen to reshuffle his team, bringing on Stefan Bell for Hyunseok Hong to shore up the defence. Despite being a man down, Mainz managed to keep the score at 1-0 going into half-time, but their task in the second half looked increasingly daunting.
Heidenheim maintain control
The second half saw Heidenheim looking to capitalise on their numerical advantage. They controlled possession and created several chances, with Maximilian Breunig coming close to doubling their lead. Mainz, to their credit, showed resilience and attempted to find an equaliser. However, their efforts were largely stifled by Heidenheim's organised defence and midfield control. The visitors' dominance was reflected in the match statistics, with Heidenheim recording more shots on target and winning more tackles than their opponents.
Late drama and Heidenheim's second
The match took another dramatic turn in the 80th minute when Heidenheim's Niklas Dorsch was shown a straight red card for a foul on Kaishu Sano. This dismissal briefly gave Mainz hope of a late comeback with the teams now level at 10 men each. However, any thoughts of a Mainz revival were quickly extinguished in the 86th minute. Schöppner rose highest to meet Adrian Beck's corner, heading the ball past Robin Zentner to double Heidenheim's lead and effectively seal the victory. The goal was a fitting reward for Schöppner's impressive performance throughout the match.
Schöppner shines for Heidenheim
While several Heidenheim players impressed, Schöppner stood out as the key performer of the match. His goal in the 86th minute was the culmination of a dominant display in midfield. Schöppner's ability to control the tempo of the game, combined with his attacking threat, was crucial to Heidenheim's victory. He finished the match with the highest pass efficiency rating among his teammates, demonstrating his importance in both attack and defense. Schöppner's performance was instrumental in helping Heidenheim secure their first away win of the season and climb to fifth place in the Bundesliga table.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Mainz 0.502 - Heidenheim 1.5049
Fastest player: Phillipp Mwene (Mainz), 33.77 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-2 by Jan Schöppner (Heidenheim), 7.88 percent
Most pressed player: Jonathan Burkardt (Mainz), 24 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Marvin Pieringer (Heidenheim), +4.5
Fantasy Heroes: Jan Schöppner (Heidenheim, 301 Points), Jonas Föhrenbach (Heidenheim, 291 Points), Marvin Pieringer (Heidenheim, 230 Points)
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