Paul Nebel's late strike secures Rhine-Main derby victory for Mainz against Frankfurt
Mainz winger Paul Nebel was the hero as he scored both goals for the home side in a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, including a dramatic 89th-minute winner. The victory moves Mainz nine points clear of the relegation places.
Mainz 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Nebel 6’ (assist: Becker), 1-1 Brown 20’ (assist: Bahoya), 2-1 Nebel 89’ (assist: Weiper)
Fresh from their midweek UEFA Conference League success against Sigma Olomouc - which was their maiden qualification for the quarter-finals of a UEFA competition - Mainz made just one change, with Sheraldo Becker replacing Nelson Weiper. Frankfurt, who have kept clean sheets in four of their six matches under new coach Albert Riera, were missing suspended defender Robin Koch, with Arthur Theate captaining the side.
The hosts made a blistering start and took the lead after just six minutes. Becker found Nebel in space, and the Mainz winger's shot from inside the box took a wicked deflection off Theate to beat Michael Zetterer in the Frankfurt goal.
The visitors responded well to the early setback and found an equaliser in the 20th minute when Jean-Mattéo Bahoya broke down the left and delivered a perfect cross for Nathaniel Brown to finish from close range.
Mainz went close to regaining the lead when Kaishu Sano fired just wide from the edge of the box following a corner. The hosts had an even better opportunity in the 37th minute when Sano won possession and fed Becker, who was denied by an excellent save from Zetterer.
Frankfurt threatened just before half-time when Chaïbi's corner found Theate, whose header was well saved by Daniel Batz. The away side controlled possession after the break but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-organised Mainz defence. Batz was called into action again to deny Farès Chaïbi's powerful header that struck the crossbar on 61 minutes.
As the match appeared to be heading for a draw, both sides had chances to find a winner. Becker was desperately unlucky not to score for Mainz in the when his left-footed effort struck both posts before bouncing to safety.
But the home side weren't to be denied, and with just one minute of normal time remaining, they found a dramatic winner. Weiper's header from a cross was brilliantly saved by Zetterer, but Nebel was in the perfect position to slam home the rebound and send the MEWA Arena into raptures. Despite eight minutes of added time, Frankfurt couldn't find an equaliser as Mainz held on for a precious derby victory.
Man of the Match: Paul Nebel
The 21-year-old winger produced a match-winning performance for Mainz, scoring both goals in their crucial 2-1 victory. Nebel showed his predatory instincts for the opener, his shot taking a fortunate deflection, and was in the right place at the right time to convert the rebound for his dramatic late winner.
Beyond his goals, Nebel was a constant threat with his movement and direct running, registering three shots on target in total. He also covered an impressive 13km during the match - more than any other player on the pitch. The home-grown talent's brace moved Mainz nine points clear of the relegation zone and earned him a well-deserved Man of the Match award.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Mainz 1.55 - Frankfurt 1.2
Fastest player: Jean-Mattéo Bahoya (Frankfurt), 33.83 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Paul Nebel (Mainz), 9.7 per cent
Most pressed player: Arnaud Kalimuendo (Frankfurt), 19 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Farès Chaïbi (Frankfurt), +2.8
Fantasy Heroes: Paul Nebel (Mainz, 369 Points), Daniel Batz (Mainz, 201 Points), Michael Zetterer (Frankfurt, 201 Points)
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