After three consecutive defeats, 1. FSV Mainz 05 has averted an impending crisis for the time being. The team defeated FC Augsburg brilliantly 4-1 (3-0) on Friday evening. The hosts laid the foundation for success in front of 19,400 spectators with a brilliant performance in the first half and goals from Karim Onisiwo (10th minute), Stefan Bell (15th) and Jonathan Burkardt (26th).
Augsburg hoped to catch up after the substitute Andi Zeqiri (69th) scored, but Burkardt, who played strongly in front of national coach Hansi Flick, immediately eliminated any doubts about the victory with the 4-1.
While Mainz consolidated their place in the middle of the table, Augsburg’s relegation worries have intensified after their first defeat against Mainz after five unbeaten games.
The Mainz sports director Martin Schmidt had spoken of a game in which “you have to get your foot in” shortly before kick-off. And the players showed it immediately. Mainz started aggressively – and suddenly led 2-0 after a quarter of an hour. With a low cross from Silvan Widmer, Augsburg defender Robert Gumny made a mistake and kicked past the ball. Onisiwo, lurking behind him, accepted the gift, straightened the ball and left FCA goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz no chance of defense.
It was Mainz who did what Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl actually asked his team to do. “You always have to be active, passive phases in the game are to be avoided,” he had said. But the hosts did not allow this at first. Good combinations, high speed, early disruptions – the Mainz fans really enjoyed their team’s game. At Augsburg almost everything went wrong at first. Weinzierl screamed, gestured and conducted on the sidelines. After the 0: 3 he sat down in frustration. First of all, Mainz defender Bell appeared in the opponent’s penalty area and pushed the ball into the goal of the unfortunate Gikiewicz in the style of a world-class striker. Almost nothing came from the guests in the first 45 minutes. On the contrary: They had to be happy that it was only 3-0 after the massive header from Burkardt after a fine cross from Onisiwo. The strong playing Onisiwo (35th) and Burkardt (40th) had more big chances, but Gikiewicz prevented worse.
Unsurprisingly, Augsburg changed at the beginning of the second half. Tobias Strobl and Zeqiri came for Gumny and Sergio Cordova. Whatever Weinzierl did or said in the dressing room during the break, it at least had a little effect. The guests finally played enthusiastically and offered resistance. After 57 minutes Ruben Vargas had the opportunity to score the first Augsburg goal, but the Swiss man’s jack went over it. When Zeqiri scored, the Augsburgers hoped – for a whole two minutes. Then Burkardt struck a second time and was able to enjoy the well-deserved applause of the audience when he was substituted (76th).