Mainz wins wild party in Augsburg

Despite being outnumbered for a long time, 1. FSV Mainz 05 won against FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga – also because FCA striker Samuel Essende followed up and Kohr's elbow went unpunished. In the end, Augsburg were also frustrated by a VAR decision.

Essende saw the red card in the 70th minute in Augsburg on Friday (20.09.2024), thus slowing down FCA's comeback. Mainz won 3-2 (2-1) in the end after goals from Armindo Sieb (13th) and Jonathan Burkardt (15th, 49th).

Augsburg came away empty-handed despite goals from Keven Schlotterbeck (25th) and Essende (57th) as well as a yellow-red card for Mainz's Nadiem Amiri (35th). They also failed to reach half of the club's Bundesliga record of 30 shots on goal – Mainz were significantly more effective with only five shots on goal.

The FSV celebrated its first victory on the 4th matchday of the Bundesliga, now has five points and overtook Augsburg (4 points) in the table. “I am proud. We gave it our all – but that was not our best game,” Mainz coach Bo Henriksen told Sportschau. His Danish compatriot Jess Thorup also praised his Augsburg team. “We were brutally dominant over 90 minutes and tried everything, created many chances. Only the final quality and luck were missing.”

Sieb and Burkardt score for Mainz

Mainz kicked off the highly entertaining football evening with a double header. Augsburg's defense was asleep on a throw-in and gave Phillipp Mwene too much time to cross – Sieb scored a header from six meters. Two minutes later, the Swiss Mwene set up the next header, this time serving Burkardt from midfield.

Augsburg needed a set piece to get back into the game. After Marius Wolf's free kick from midfield, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw put the ball back in front of the goal, where Schlotterbeck scored powerfully from five meters.

Bitter two minutes for Mainz's Amiri

Amiri's mistake gave Augsburg the next boost. The Mainz player was first shown a yellow card for complaining and just two minutes later a yellow-red card for pulling his shirt – and that in a harmless situation in midfield.

Mainz retreated far behind while outnumbered. Augsburg attacked but failed to score another goal before half-time.

Augsburg's Essende first hits the goal and then Kohr

After the break, Mainz surprisingly added to their lead: Hyun-seok Hong headed a cross from Aymen Barkok. Burkardt correctly speculated at the far post and slid the ball into the goal.

Augsburg kept the pressure on and again managed to get a deserved goal back with a powerful header from Essende. After that, it seemed only a matter of time before the equalizer came, but the goal scorer from Essende committed an act of violence.

On the screen, referee Sören Storks saw Essende kick Mainz player Dominik Kohr in the legs from behind while away from the ball – a clear red card. What the VAR did not show Storks, however, was that immediately beforehand Kohr had hit Essende in the head with his elbow – this was also a possible assault. “Why doesn’t he get a red card too?” That’s what Augsburg’s coach Thorup said.

Mainz goalkeeper Zentner defuses overhead kick

Augsburg was also the clearly better team in the ten-on-ten match and came close to equalizing. In the 90th minute, substitute striker Steve Mounié attempted a beautiful overhead kick, but the strong Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner (seven blocked shots on goal) deflected the ball around the post.

Deep into injury time, Augsburg was even awarded a penalty. But after the VAR informed the referee Storks, he looked at Silvan Widmer's tackle on Schlotterbeck for a long time and reversed the decision. Widmer had hit Schlotterbeck on the foot, but only well after his failed shot attempt. Augsburg's coach Thorup was nevertheless angry in the Sportschau interview: “That wasn’t a clear wrong decision, so why did the VAR intervene?”

“Harry Kane would have gotten the penalty”

“Harry Kane would have gotten the penalty”claimed FCA sports director Jurinko Jurendic, referring to a penalty decision for FC Bayern and its top scorer Kane a week earlier in the record champions' 6-1 win against Kiel.

In the end, Mainz were lucky enough to hold on to their lead. “For the spectators today it was an extremely great game, for us, the FCA, it was very disappointing,” said Schlotterbeck.

Augsburg has to go to Leipzig, Mainz against Heidenheim

On the next matchday, Augsburg has to travel to Leipzig (28.09., 15:30), while Mainz will host Heidenheim at the same time.