08.02.2010

Mainz 1-0 Borussia

Borussia were beaten by a 44th minute goal in Mainz despite having the better of the chances and much more of the play, especially in the first half.

Head coach Michael Frontzeck named the same side that beat Bremen last week after Raul Bobadilla, whose fitness had been in doubt until just before kick-off, was given the all-clear. "If it means taking a risk, he won't play," Frontzeck had said during the pre-match build-up. Mainz boss Thomas Tuchel included former Borussia players Eugen Polanski and Bo Svensson in his line-up. New signings Radoslav Zabavnik and Malik Fathi also started in the full-back positions.

Borussia had the first chance of the game in the fourth minute. A Juan Arango free-kick from the left caused confusion in the Mainz rearguard, allowing Raul Bobadilla to get a shot in from five metres. His effort lacked accuracy, however, and Mainz keeper Heinz Müller made the save. Just four minutes later Bobadilla broke clear down the right, as he had done repeatedly against Bremen, only to be denied by a last-ditch challenge. With the Borussia fans in full voice the home side registered their first attempt on goal through André Schürrle on 11 minutes, but Logan Bailly saved comfortably. Borussia, however, were more determined in the tackle and seemed to have more ideas going forward.

Borussia pay for missed chances

Less than quarter of an hour had elapsed when Bobadilla had his third chance of the game. The Argentine striker went round Müller, but the angle was too tight for him to slide the ball home. Mainz gradually began to show more ambition, but genuine chances remained a rarity. In the 31st minute Tim Hoogland at least managed to send a header in the general direction of the goal. At this stage the only thing Borussia were lacking was the ability to convert their superior ideas into goals. On 34 Arango was presented with a decent opportunity from a free-kick, but the ball zipped wide of the left-hand upright.

Five minutes before the interval Marco Reus, who was beginning to make his presence felt, shrugged off the challenge of four opponents to knock an almost perfect pass to Bobadilla, but he was again denied by Müller. And Borussia were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal on the stroke of half-time. Soto's corner was headed towards the Borussia goal by Noveski, and after Bailly had palmed the ball onto the crossbar Reus made a mess of his attempted goal-line clearance, allowing former Borussia man Svensson, of all people, to give Mainz a fortunate one-goal lead at the break. This came just moments after the home side had lost their captain Tim Hoogland to a knee injury.

Borussia chase the equaliser in vain

Chances were few and far between after the restart, and this was partly because Borussia were finding it more difficult to find a way through against a more solid Mainz outfit who have yet to lose at home this season. The only chance for quite some time was a 48th minute header by Roberto Colautti from a Reus cross that missed the target by some distance. The Israel striker eventually made way for Rob Friend with 64 minutes gone.

Whereas in the first half Borussia frequently bypassed the midfield with quick balls to the front men, in the second the majority of the play unfolded in the centre of the park. Friend had his first sniff of goal on 74 when he won an aerial challenge, but he was unable to direct his header on target. Once again Michael Frontzeck threw on youngsters Patrick Herrmann and Fabian Bäcker in a bid to introduce more momentum in the closing stages. And the impact was almost immediate. Reus was presented with a great opportunity to equalise on 79 when Michael Bradley capitalised on a mistake by Fathi to tee him up in a great position, only for his close-range effort to roll past the post. Five minutes later Reus laid the ball off for Herrmann, though his shot lacked conviction. Shortly after that the youngster rounded off an attack he had launched himself by slicing his effort wide. The three minutes of added time also failed to produce an equaliser.

In a game they should never have lost Borussia were undone by a defensive error that led to the Mainz goal. And they will be without Tobias Levels for next Friday's visit of Nürnberg after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the closing stages.

Mainz: Müller – Zabavnik, Svensson, Noveski, Fathi – Karhan, Polanski – Hoogland (Amri 40'/Bungert 90'), Soto, Schürrle (Szalai 69') – Bancé

Borussia: Bailly – Levels, Brouwers, Dante, Daems – Marx (Herrmann 69'), Bradley – Reus, Arango, Bobadilla (Bäcker 76') , Colautti (Friend 64')

Goals: 1-0 Svensson (44')

Yellow cards: Fathi - Levels

Attendance: 20,300 (sold out)

Referee: Knut Kircher