Harmless for a long time, discouraged, without ideas – and yet there remains a glimmer of hope: 1. FC Köln just averted what was probably the decisive low blow in the heated all-or-nothing game at FSV Mainz 05. The Rhinelanders saved a late 1-1 (0-1) draw against the Rheinhessen and thus remain within five points of their opponent, who is still in the relegation place. Now, however, a brilliant final spurt is needed to avoid the seventh relegation.
Florian Kainz (90+5) scored a penalty in stoppage time after Leandro Barreiro (29′) had fallen behind to secure a draw for Timo Schultz’s chronically weak away team. FSV goalkeeper Robin Zentner fouled Sargis Adamyan. Luca Waldschmidt had previously awarded a penalty for Cologne (48th). Mainz’s Phillip Mwene was shown a red card for serious foul play (90+9). Because of the Bochum victory, the 05ers slipped back into the relegation place, two points short of VfL and Union Berlin on the safe side.
Six games without defeat doesn’t change that. After the defeat against Darmstadt (0:2), there was already a “never give a damn” atmosphere in Cologne. The team should play freely “with a kiss-my-ass mentality,” demanded Timo Schultz. “Don’t talk, just deliver,” added head of licensed football Thomas Kessler. With three changes in the starting line-up, the Rhinelanders got off to a committed start in front of 33,000 spectators and were immediately toxic in the duels.
But the league’s weakest offensive in the transition game didn’t make any use of the promising ball wins; two long-range shots from Denis Huseinbasic were the most dangerous (12th, 15th). Mainz initially had a much more difficult time than in the previous weeks, which had been somewhat hectic, and initially found hardly any gaps. Sepp van den Berg’s big chance was more of a coincidence, Marvin Schwäbe made a strong save (20′).
As a result, the game became more heated – and Cologne was able to counterattack after their own harmless free kick: Schwäbe saved from Karim Onisiwo’s shot, but Barreiro shot into the empty net. Mainz now clearly took command, Cologne seemed shocked. Van den Berg (30th) headed just wide after a corner, Jonathan Burkardt missed an early decision after a dream cross from Brajan Gruda alone in front of the goal (33rd). This would have been true almost immediately after the substitution: But Waldschmidt did not accept the gift from the spot after Anthony Caci fouled Faride Alidou and shot low to the right.
The Rheinhessen team then took control of the game again, but despite their superiority there was a lack of compelling action in the penalty area. After an hour, Schultz increased the risk with an offensive triple substitution. Cologne struggled with a yellow-red card that was not given to Caci (60th), but also pushed a little more towards the Mainz goal even in the equal number. Benno Schmitz failed from a tight angle to Robin Zentner (73′), as did substitute Mark Uth (85′).