FC St. Pauli

Head coach Alexander Blessin was forced to rejig his side following the ankle injury to James Sands in the unlucky 1-0 defeat against SC Freiburg. Lars Ritzka came into the starting lineup, slotting in at left wing-back, with Eric Smith moving up to partner Jackson Irvine in defensive midfield and Siebe Van der Heyden shifting inside into the back three. The good news was that Connor Metcalfe featured in the squad for the first time since picking up an adductor injury almost five months ago. Mainz, sporting a multi-coloured carnival jersey, fielded an unchanged side after the 2-0 win at Heidenheim last time out.

The anticipated high-intensity contest kicked off in an electric atmosphere at the packed MEWA-Arena. Just two minutes in, the Boys in Brown carved out the first chance of the game when Elias Saad won a free-kick just outside the box. Eric Smith stepped up to take it and curled the ball just past the angle of crossbar and post. The Blessin XI continued to press and after Jackson Irvine had won possession in the Mainz half Noah Weißhaupt pulled the trigger from a good 20 metres out, only to see the ball come back off the inside of the left-hand upright and spin wide of the other post for a goal-kick. Though the home side saw more of the ball early on, it was the Boys in Brown who fashioned the next opportunity, Johannes Eggestein popping up in front of Mainz keeper Robin Zentner after playing a one-two with Saad. He overran it slightly, however, and Zentner made a crucial block.

Mainz created their first chance a few minutes later, a header from Nelson Weiper that was cleared by Hauke Wahl with Nikola Vasilj ready to collect in any case. The Blessin XI continued to carry the great threat and in the 21^st minute they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Moritz Jenz on Saad. Referee Felix Zwayer had another look at it in the review area, however, and reversed his decision. Next, Weißhaupt was allowed too much space in the Mainz half and tried his luck again from range, but this time he smashed his shot well over the top. Two minutes later Lars Ritzka came within a whisker of getting on the end of a cross from Siebe Van der Heyden, and soon after Saad did the same after a ball in from Philipp Treu. Back at the other end, Anthony Caci played a wall pass with Weiper before unloading from just inside the box, but Vasilj was down quickly to gather. And after Treu had headed over from a Ritzka cross, the referee blew his whistle for half-time.

The lively Noah Weißhaupt was unlucky to hit the post early on.

Blessin was allowed into the dressing-room to speak to his players at the break but elected to make no changes for the second 45. After an uninspiring first-half showing from his charges, Mainz boss Bo Henrikson opted to introduce Jae-sung Lee for Nelson Weiper. The pattern remained very much the same, however, as the Blessin XI picked up where they had left off, playing nice football and creating the first opening after the restart on 54 when Irvine flicked on a ball in from Saad, only to see it fly wide of the far post.

Mainz's 13-goal man Jonathan Burkardt registered his first attempt on goal on the hour, but Vasilj was alert to the danger and made the save. Soon after, Lars Ritzka hobbled off and was replaced by Adam Dźwigała, who slotted in on the right side of defence, with Treu switching to the left. Within three minutes, the home side took the lead. Nadiem Amiri pulled the trigger from 25 metres and Vasilj could only parry it, and the lurking Lee prodded home from four metres. Assistant coach Peter Németh responded immediately, throwing on Oladapo Afolayan for Elias Saad. The Boys in Brown had 25 minutes plus stoppage time left to claim their reward for a decent performance, though Mainz, buoyed by the surprise lead, began to play with more freedom and contain the brown-and-white threat.

That said, Irvine had a golden opportunity to level the scores on 78 minutes after some excellent work by Weißhaupt, but the header fizzed over the crossbar. Mainz hit back almost immediately and almost doubled their advantage when substitute Armindo Sieb fired narrowly past the angle from just outside the box. The game ebbed and flowed, and a marvellous attacking move saw Afolayan play his way down the right and deliver a cross for Weißhaupt to head back across goal to Eggestein. The striker met it first time, but his connection wasn't perfect and the ball trundled past the right-hand post.

With seven minutes left, Németh made a double substitution, Abdoulie Ceesay and Danel Sinani replacing Philipp Treu and Noah Weißhaupt. His side threw everyone forward in the closing stages but were unable to find an equaliser. Instead, they conceded a second with the last kick of the game through Paul Nebel.

FSV Mainz 05

Zentner - da Costa, Jenz, Kohr (Hanche-Olsen 66') - Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene (Widmer 83') - Nebel, Weiper (Lee 46') - Burkardt (Sieb 72')

Head coach: Bo Henriksen

FC St. Pauli

Vasilj - Nemeth, Wahl, Van der Heyden - Treu (Ceesay 82'), Smith, Irvine, Ritzka (Dźwigała 62') - Saad (Afolayan 68'), Eggestein, Weißhaupt (Sinani 82')

Head coach: Peter Németh (standing in for the suspended Alexander Blessin)

Goals: 1-0 Lee (67'), 2-0 Nebel (90'+5)

Yellow cards: Kohr, Nebel, Sano –  Nemeth, Treu, Van der Heyden

Referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin)

Attendance: 33,305 (sold out)

Photos: FC St. Pauli/Witters