Ten-man Mainz hold out against Lech Poznań in UEFA Conference League

Despite going down to 10 men, Sota Kawasaki's goal proved enough for Mainz to earn a point against Lech Poznań in their UEFA Conference League match in Urs Fischer's first game as head coach.

Lech Poznań 1-1 Mainz
Goals: 0-1 Kawasaki 28’ (assist: Hollerbach), 1-1 Ishak 41’ pen
Red card: Veratschnig 67’

Despite their Bundesliga struggles, Mainz came into the game well-positioned in the league phase, and despite Poznań coming close after 16 minutes through former Nuremberg striker Mikael Ishak, the visitors took the lead when Sota Kawasaki diverted a Benedict Hollerbach cross into the back of the net after 28 minutes.

Hollerbach then thought he had given Mainz a 2-0 lead after 32 minutes when he headed home the rebound after Nelson Weiper had hit the crossbar, but after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed for offside.

To add insult to injury, Poznań were then given a penalty after Kawasaki brought down Luis Palma in the box, with Ishak stepping up to chip home the equaliser.

Nikolas Veratschnig nearly made it 2-1 to Mainz just before the break with a header, but Bartosz Mrozek did well to get across and make a vital save.

Kawasaki (l.) scored just two minutes after coming off the bench for the injured Silvan Widmer. - IMAGO/Matthias Koch

Mainz started the second half well, with Paul Nebel, Veratschnig, and Andreas Hanche-Olsen all coming close, but the game swung in Poznań’s favour when Veratschnig received a second yellow card for a pull on Pablo Rodríguez.

Rodríguez then came close to giving Poznań the lead, but Daniel Batz made himself big to pull off a superb stop. The stand-in Mainz keeper continued to deny the hosts as he made further saves from Ishak and Antoni Kozubal to earn his side a hard-fought point.

Mainz will host Turkish side Samsunspor in their next European fixture on 18 December.

See Mainz's Conference League results and fixtures here!

Recap the action against Poznań below...

1 - 1

(1 - 1)

Lech Poznan

FINAL

Mainz

Conference League
League phase, Matchday 5 League phase, Matchday 5 Poznan Stadium, Poznan

Full-time: Lech Poznań 1-1 Mainz

The Urs Fischer era begins with a point as Mainz hold on despite the man disadvantage. The visitors showed real promise at points, and were unlucky not to be 2-0 up through Hollerbach in the first half. However, with the red card, the game turned, and Batz became increasingly involved as he helped secure his side a valuable point.

© IMAGO/Matthias Koch

Full-time

90'

+ 2

Mainz almost steal all three points

Bøving is given the ball by Ishak in a dangerous position and shoots, but his effort narrowly misses the target.

90'

Added time

Mainz have three more minutes to hold on.

87'

Ishak denied

The Swede hits a great shot first time, but once more, Batz is there to make the save.

86'

Substitution

João Moutinho

Michał Gurgul

85'

Substitution

Fabio Moreno Fell

Benedict Hollerbach

85'

Substitution

Lennard Maloney

Sota Kawasaki

85'

Hollerbach has a go

The winger does well to work himself some room and shoot, but his effort is weak.

Hollerbach's goal that never was

The winger thought he had given Mainz a 2-0 lead, only for his goal to be disallowed for offside.

© IMAGO/Matthias Koch

81'

Substitution

Yannick Agnero

Antoni Kozubal

75'

Kozubal denied

The Poznań midfielder has a go, but Batz is there once more to make the save.

71'

Substitution

Arnaud Nordin

Nelson Weiper

71'

Substitution

William Bøving

Jae-sung Lee

71'

Yellow card

Michał Gurgul

70'

Batz denies Rodríguez

What a stop from the Mainz keeper! Rodríguez is in one-on-one against Batz, but the goalkeeper does superbly to make himself big and make a huge stop to keep Mainz level.

67'

Substitution

Leo Bengtsson

Luis Palma

67'

Substitution

Taofeek Ismaheel

Ali Gholizadeh

67'

Mainz down to 10

Veratschnig pulls back Rodríguez and is shown a second yellow card. Mainz are down to 10.

67'

Second yellow card

Nikolas Veratschnig

60'

Hanche-Olsen heads over

The Norwegian gets up well to meet a corner from Nebel, but he can only head over the bar from a good position.

56'

Just wide from Veratschnig

Veratschnig gets up well to meet a good cross from Nebel, but can only head the ball narrowly wide.

51'

Yellow card

Sota Kawasaki

50'

Not far away

Hollerbach finds Nebel, who shoots from range and narrowly misses the target.

46'

Substitution

Timothy Ouma

Filip Jagiełło

46'

Back underway

The ball is moving again.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Poznań 1-1 Mainz

An entertaining half of football comes to an end with the game level. Kawasaki gave Mainz the lead after 28 minutes before Hollerbach thought he had made it 2-0 just four minutes later. However, the forward was narrowly offside. The hosts then answered back when Palma won a penalty, and Ishak calmly slotted the spot kick home. Everything still to play for in the second half.

© IMAGO/Matthias Koch

Half-time

45'

+ 8

Weiper heads goalwards

Weiper meets a cross with his head, but Mrozek makes the save comfortably.

45'

+ 2

So close to 2-1

Mainz nearly retake the lead. Nebel finds Nikolas Veratschnig with a cross. He heads goalwards, but Mrozek does superbly to get across and make the save.

45'

+ 1

Hollerbach shoots

The Mainz winger bursts into the area and shoots, but his effort is saved.

45'

Added time

There will be eight minutes of added time after those checks.

Ishak chips home

The Swedish striker saunters up to the ball and dinks the penalty down the middle. Poznań are level.

© IMAGO/Matthias Koch

41'

Mikael Ishak

GOAL!

1:1

Penalty

37'

Penalty given

After a lengthy VAR check, the hosts have a penalty. Mainz fail to clear, and Palma is brought down in the box by Kawasaki.

37'

Penalty!

37'

Yellow card

Nikolas Veratschnig

36'

The hosts look to answer back

Batz is forced into another good save by Gurgul.

32'

Hollerbach thinks he has made it 2-0

But it doesn't count. Weiper crashes a shot off the bar, but Hollerbach is there to head home the rebound. However, after a VAR review, the goal is disallowed as Hollerbach was narrowly offside.

31'

Yellow card

Antoni Kozubal

The substitute makes an immediate impact

Kawasaki is fresh on the pitch after that Widmer injury, and he has already made an impact. Mainz lead! Hollerbach chips a cross to the back post that is met by Kawasaki, and he pokes home.

© IMAGO/Matthias Koch

28'

Sota Kawasaki

GOAL!

0:1

26'

Widmer can't continue

The Mainz captain has picked up a knock and is unable to continue. Kawasaki replaces him.

26'

Substitution

Sota Kawasaki

Silvan Widmer

20'

Gholizadeh has a go

The winger dips inside from the right and has a go, but Batz makes the save easily enough.

16'

Ishak denied

The hosts have plenty of time to work space for a cross that is met by Ishak. His effort is goalbound, but too close to Batz, allowing the goalkeeper to make a stunning reaction stop to keep the game level.

12'

Poznań get going

Good football in and around the Mainz penalty area leads to Ishak setting up Rodríguez, but his shot is blocked, killing the power and allowing the ball to roll through to Batz.

10'

Better from Mainz

Veratschnig has a go from the edge of the box that forces Mrozek into a good save.

9'

Poznań controlling the ball

Mainz are allowing the hosts to have a significant amount of the ball.

Possession

7030

5'

Hollerbach drawing fouls

The Mainz forward has already been brought down a couple of times in the opening five minutes by the Poznań defenders. It has been a stop-start opening few minutes.

1'

We're underway

The ball is moving in Poznań. What can Fischer achieve during his first game in charge of Mainz?

Kick-off!

Kick-off fast approaching

The players are on the pitch, and the game will be getting underway in the next five minutes.

Nebel back in the team

Although he is currently suspended in the Bundesliga, Nebel is in the team tonight for the game against Poznań.

© IMAGO/Matthias Koch

More on those teams

The hosts have two fresh faces in their side after drawing 2-2 against KS Cracovia at the weekend, with both Filip Jagiełło and Ali Gholizadeh joining the starting XI. Urs Fischer, meanwhile, makes four changes to the side that lost at home to Gladbach last time out in what is his first game in charge. Kohr, Veratschnig, Nebel and Hollerbach all come into the starting XI.

© IMAGO/Marc Schueler

Poznań starting XI

Mrozek – Pereira, Mońka, Skrzypczak, Gurgul – Kozubal, Jagiełło – Gholizadeh, Rodríguez, Palma – Ishak (c)

Poznań subs

Bąkowski, Pruchniewski, Moutinho, Ouma, Agnero, Bengtsson, Fiabema, Gumny, Barański, Jakóbczyk, Lisman, Ismaheel

Mainz starting XI

Batz – Da Costa, Hanche-Olsen, Kohr – Widmer (c), Lee, Sano, Veratschnig – Nebel, Hollerbach – Weiper

Mainz subs

Rieß, Babatz, Leitsch, Nordin, Sieb, Bøving, Maloney, Bell, Kawasaki, Moreno Fell, Bobzien, Potulski

Fresh start

Mainz have never faced Polish opposition before, giving them a clean slate to start from as they look to turn their poor form around.

Fischer on facing Lech Poznań

“We’re expecting a team that will keep trying to press and that runs a lot. They want to put their opponent under pressure to create stress - so for us it will be important to stay calm and endure it. Still, we also have to focus on ourselves; we want to bring our own game onto the pitch and make sure the result is positive from our point of view in the end.”

© IMAGO/Martin Hoffmann

Niels Frederiksen on facing Mainz

"Mainz have some troubles in the Bundesliga at the moment, but are performing quite well in Europe. They have also just changed the coach, of course, so it's a bit unclear exactly what they will do. I think it will be a tough game, but it will be a game where we have chances, I think, also to win the game."

© IMAGO/Marcin Golba

Fischer outlines Mainz plan

In his first press conference in charge of Mainz, the Swiss manager shed some light on the footballing philosophy he'll be trying to implement at Mainz, declaring: "It's about getting back to basics now. We want to show what Mainz football is all about: being relentless, being tough in the challenges and defending compactly...I've told the lads that it's important to take things game by game. The experienced players will have to lead the way, but in a situation like this there's always the chance for the younger players to make their mark."

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Hahne

2:03

Mainz rooted at bottom

A 1-0 defeat at home to Gladbach on Friday night saw Mainz go winless for a ninth successive Bundesliga match and remain in 18th spot.

Lech looking up

After a mixed start to their Polish title defence, Lech Poznan have now gone five matches unbeaten in all competitions - taking a 2-2 draw at Cracovia on Sunday. They may be down in ninth in the Ekstraklasa table, but they have a game in hand on leaders Górnik Zabrze (featuring Germany legend Lukas Podolski) with just four points to make up.

© IMAGO/FOT. JACEK STANISLAWEK / 400mm.pl

Praise for Urs

Mainz board member for sport Christian Heidel said: “Urs Fischer has proven at every stage of his coaching career that he can organise and develop teams, while also winning over dressing rooms with his calm yet empathetic approach. His achievements and attributes have made him one of the most sought-after coaches around. We’re therefore delighted that he was immediately interested in the opportunity to join Mainz.”

Fischer arrives

Former Union Berlin boss Urs Fischer, who guided the club from the capital to the Champions League, was appointed as new Mainz coach on Sunday.

© IMAGO/Michael Taeger

Bo Henriksen departs

It is ultimately Mainz's Bundesliga form that has led to the Dane's departure, with Mainz winning just one of their opening 12 games this campaign in the competition. That brings and end to his 18-month stint at the club, with Benjamin Hoffmann taking charge of the tie against against Borussia Mönchengladbach on an interim basis.

© Pau Barrena/Bundesliga

Familiar faces

Lech Poznan have a couple of former Bundesliga/Bundesliga 2 players in their ranks. Robert Gumny joined Augsburg from Poznan before returning earlier this year, while Mikael Ishak previously played for Cologne and Nuremberg.

© IMAGO/kolbert-press/Christian Kolbert

Head-to-head

Not only have Mainz never faced Lech Poznan before, they have never come up against Polish opposition. Poznan, on the other hand, have played four games against German sides, although not since 1985 when they were beaten by Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Cup first round. They are still waiting for their first win versus a Bundesliga team.

© imago sportfotodienst

Lech Poznan - the story so far

After four matches of this year's league phase, Poznan have six points. That is thank to victories over Rapid Vienna and Lausanne, while they suffered defeats to Lincoln FC and Rayo Vallecano. They currently 16th.

© IMAGO

Mainz - the story so far

In stark contrast to their Bundesliga form, Mainz have done rather well in the Conference League. They won each of their opening three games, and although they suffered a narrow defeat to Universitatea Craiova in their last match, they are well on course to reach the last 16.

© IMAGO/Marc Schueler

Welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Mainz's Conference League encounter away at Lech Poznan on Matchday 5 of the league phase, which kicks off at 9pm CET on Thursday.

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