Match report

HSV pick up a point in Mainz

At the start of matchday 23 of the Bundesliga season, the points were shared between Hamburger SV and hosts 1. FSV Mainz 05 when the final whistle blew. Fabio Vieira scored for the Rothosen in a 1-1 draw, after Nadiem Amiri had earlier given the FSV the lead.

Hamburger SV opened Matchday 23 on Friday evening (20th February) with a 1-1 draw away at Mainz 05. In a hard-fought and at times fiery encounter at the MEWA ARENA, the hosts took the lead shortly before the break through Nadiem Amiri (42’). In the second half, Fabio Vieira levelled matters for the Rothosen with a deflected free-kick (64’).

First the setback…

Compared with the 3–2 home win against 1. FC Union Berlin, head coach Merlin Polzin made one change to the starting XI. Warmed Omari came into the side for the suspended Luka Vušković. HSV, who wore a special jersey to mark the club’s 1,887th Bundesliga match last weekend, began the floodlit clash in a cautious manner. The hosts created the first moment of danger as early as the second minute: Mainz's new signing Silas beat two Hamburg players out on the left and drilled the ball across goal, but Miro Muheim reacted alertly to clear the danger. After the opening exchanges, HSV gradually settled and grew into the game with more and more possession. The visitors produced their first real threat in the 21st minute. Pushing forward, Omari found himself unmarked around 16 metres from goal and forced keeper Daniel Batz into a parry. Shortly afterwards, Robert Glatzel had another opportunity for the Rothosen, but his first-time effort from a Philip Otele pass lacked the necessary accuracy and Batz was again able to make the save. During this spell, HSV were the dominant side, enjoying around 60 per cent of possession.

As the half progressed, however, the 05ers began to threaten particularly through Nadiem Amiri, and posed problems for the HSV defence. Danny da Costa delivered a cross from the right towards Amiri, who was waiting in the area but was put under decisive pressure by Bakery Jatta and unable to finish. Shortly before the break, despite being the stronger side, HSV allowed the hosts a little too much space. Mainz again combined down the right through da Costa and Amiri and this time the move ended with the latter finishing from around eight metres out. Amiri met the ball on the volley and fired it into the far corner to make it 1-0 in the 42nd minute. Despite the better chances and greater share of possession, the Rothosen went into the dressing room narrowly behind.

…then the share of the spoils

HSV returned from the break unchanged, and the second half immediately became heated. Following a Mainz corner, Muheim was fouled by Dominik Kohr, who had already been booked earlier. The first notable chance after the restart fell to captain Nicolas Capaldo, who curled an effort towards goal from the edge of the area but narrowly missed the target. In the 60th minute, the hosts came close to doubling their lead, yet Philipp Tietz was unable to find the back of the net from a promising position.

Moments later, HSV won a free-kick in a central area – and with it the chance to equalise. Fabio Vieira stepped up and struck the set-piece into the wall; however, the effort took a deflection and looped into the Mainz net to bring the Rothosen level. In the closing stages, the hosts were the more active side and increasingly pushed HSV back. Time and again they threatened through Jae-sung Lee but could not find a way past the visitors’ defence. Shortly before the final whistle, Mainz launched another attack via Becker, who struck the ball first-time with the inside of his right foot but sent it just wide of the far post. Deep into stoppage time the Rothosen had one final opportunity from a set piece. Goalscorer Vieira delivered the ball into the area, but none of his teammates were able to apply the finishing touch. After four minutes of added time, the contest ended in a hard-earned and ultimately fair 1-1 draw.

Match facts:

1. FSV Mainz 05: Batz – Kohr (59' Veratschnig), Posch, Potulski - da Costa, Sano, Mwene, Amiri, Lee (86' Nebel) – Silas (45' Becker) Tietz

Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes - Omari, Torunarigha, Capaldo – Jatta (65' Mikelbrencis), Vieira, Remberg, Muheim (88' Gocholeishvili) – Königsdörffer (87' Elfadli), Glatzel (65' Poulsen), Otele (75' Philippe)

Goals: 1-0 Amiri (42'), 1-1 Vieira (64')

Attendance: 34.000 (sold out)

Referee: Dr. Robin Braun (Wuppertal)

Yellow cards: Silas, Kohr, Potulski / Muheim, Remberg