Mainz 2-2 Werder Bremen
Goals: 1-0 Ajorque 85' (assist: Widmer), 1-1 Stage 87’, 2-1 Weiper 90'+3, 2-2 Füllkrug 90’+5

Mainz had the first chances, both falling to Dominik Kohr, but it was a spectacular Füllkrug effort which brought a fine save out of Robin Zentner and earned the biggest cheer of the opening 25 minutes. There was not much else to cheer about in a tense and keenly fought first half, with the hosts growing as the period wore on and felt they should have had a penalty right on the stroke of half-time when Ludovic Ajorque went down in the area, but the referee was having none of their protests.

Anton Stach had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second half before Ajorque headed just over Jiri Pavlenka’s goal. It set a much better tone for Mainz, who continued to probe and push Bremen onto the back foot. Jae-sung Lee had two good chances before Ajorque finally broke the deadlock with only five minutes of normal time to go. Bremen failed to clear Lee’s cross and the French striker was in the right place at the right time to hammer the ball home. Mainz’s joy was short-lived, though, as Jens Stage levelled almost instantly. Mitchell Weiser’s cross was helped on by a defender and it was Stage’s turn to be in the perfect place to head in only 81 seconds after going behind. Yet the 05ers would re-take the lead three minutes beyond the 90 when teenager Nelson Weiper swept home from close range after a Lee header was parried. It did not prove to be the winner, though, as Füllkrug broke Mainz hearts at the death, turning in Weiser’s back-heeled pass for a share of the spoils.

M05 Mainz Mainz - SVW Bremen Werder Bremen

Late drama as Mainz held by Bremen