Bundesliga
Karim Onisiwo scored early in the second half as Mainz came from behind to claim derby bragging rights by beating Eintracht Frankfurt in Monday's Matchday 13 closer and put breathing space between themselves and the danger zone.
Mainz 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 0-1 Hinteregger (34'), 1-1 Onisiwo (50'), 2-1 Szalai (69')
Red card: Kohr (44')
Frankfurt had never won a derby in Mainz in 11 attempts, but Dominik Kohr's volley that flashed wide early on suggested their UEFA Europa League win over Arsenal last Thursday had given their self-belief a much-needed boost. Daichi Kamada was the chief architect of their victory in London, and he pressured Robin Zentner into almost making a mistake before the Mainz goalkeeper was beaten. Djibril Sow's run into the box to collect a corner caught the hosts napping, and when Almany Toure teed the ball up, Martin Hinteregger fired home. The Eagles were reduced to ten men just before the break though when Kohr brought down Leven Öztunali as the last man to stop a Maintz counter-attack.
Goncalo Paciencia's removal at half-time suggested Frankfurt would try to sit on their lead; if that was the strategy, Adi Hütter's men were not comfortable for long. Rönnow had just tipped over a Jean-Paul Boetius half-volley quite brilliantly when Jerry St. Juste's low ball into the box took a decisive touch off Onisiwo with Hinteregger unable to stop him. The Austrian defender made amends by heading off his line to help out Rönnow, who had brilliantly denied Adam Szalai. But the Mainz substitute swivelled smartly to shoot beyond the Dane barely 60 seconds later to put the hosts ahead. Filip Kostic's desperate lunge at the back post might have brought an equaliser had he connected with the ball, and though Rönnow was again busy in the closing stages, it took a block from Zentner in added time to ensure new Mainz boss Achim Beierlorzer made it two wins from two to begin his reign at the OPEL Arena.
Mainz: Zentner – St. Juste (Brosinkski 65'), E. Fernandes, Niakhate – Öztunali, Kunde, Latza (c) (Szalai 57'), Martin – Boetius – Onisiwo, Quaison (Maxim 90+2')
Unused subs: Müller, Pierre-Gabriel, Hack, Barreiro, Awoniyi, Burkhardt
Out: Baku (suspended), Bell (ankle), Ji (knee), Mateta (knee), Mwene (knock)
Coach: Achim Beierlorzer
Frankfurt: Rönnow – Toure, Hinteregger, N'Dicka – da Costa, Rode (c) (Gacinovic 74'), Kohr, Kostic – Kamada, Sow – Paciencia (Torro 46')
Unused subs: Wiedwald, G. Fernandes, Joveljic, Chandler, Durm, Cetin, Silva
Out: Abraham (suspended), Dost (muscular), Hasebe (flu), Russ (Achilles tendon), Trapp (shoulder)
Coach: Adi Hütter