Trainer Bruno Labbadia chose not to make any changes to the eleven which started in the 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund – and why would he, considering the performance his men put on against the German champions. As against BVB, the clash with Mainz was intensive and physical from the outset. VfB had their first chance in the seventh minute as Khalid Boulahrouz picked out Tamas Hajnal in the box, but the Hungarians square pass was cut out by a 05 defender.

The visitor’s best chance of the first period fell to Cacau in the 25th minute, as the striker rose to head goal-wards, but could only find the arms of Mainz keeper Wetklo. Although Labbadia’s men controlled the closing period of the first half, they were also lucky not to concede. In the 37th minute, the defence struggled to clear their lines and the ball fell to Ivanschitz. Ulreich got a touch on the ball, making it easier for Boulahrouz to clear off the goal line. The result was that the sides went in at the break scoreless.

Short-lived celebrations

Chances on goal may have been a rarity in the first half, but from the 50th minute they came thick and fast. First Ulreich had to be quickly off his line to smother the ball at the feet of Ujah but then, at the other end, Cacau got on the end of a square pass across the box from Harnik to put VfB in front. VfB’s joy at taking the lead was short though. In the 53rd minute Ujah got his head to a Soto cross to level the scores. Just two minutes later, the referee denied VfB a penalty, when Shinji Okazaki was bumped off the ball by Wetklo, but, at the opposite end in the 58th minute, the referee awarded a very questionable penalty to Mainz. Maza had made a challenge on Nicolai Müller for the ball and suddenly the whistle blew and the referee was pointing to the spot. Ivanschitz hammered the ball home to make it 2-1 for the hosts.