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Kevin Vogt goes into the duel, Ludovic Ajorque also goes down without being hit
Photo: Neil Baynes/Getty Images
Sharing points in bad weather: Mainz 05 and Union Berlin drew 1-1 (1-1) in the catch-up game and remain in the bottom of the Bundesliga table. Jonathan Burkardt put Mainz in the lead (45th + 8th minute), Robin Gosens immediately equalized (45th + 13th).
In January, the game was canceled due to the wintry weather - a frozen standing area in particular was seen as a safety risk. At the rescheduled date, the weather was less dangerous, but no less extreme: the persistent rain in Mainz had flooded the pitch, with deep puddles forming, particularly at the center line.
Under these adverse conditions, the Berlin team, whose coach Nenad Bjelica was still suspended after his slap on Bayern professional Leroy Sané, got off to a better start: striker Kevin Volland only hit the bottom edge of the crossbar (7th). Mainz then also became dangerous with a set piece, Fredrik Rönnow had to save twice after a corner against Sepp van den Berg and Leandro Barreiro (9th).
The scene wasn't over yet: While pursuing, Union's Robin Knoche caught Mainz striker Ludovic Ajorque in the face with his foot, giving the Frenchman a bloody nose. Only because Knoche had previously played the ball lightly did referee Martin Petersen not decide on a penalty.
Tennis ball protest and exciting injury time
Union's Volland scored his second aluminum goal with a long-range shot at the right post (39th) before the ball came to rest: In protest against the investor investment decided by the German Football League, Mainz fans threw tennis balls and bouncy balls onto the lawn. The game was interrupted for nine minutes before the highlights of the first half followed in stoppage time: Burkardt headed into the goal after a corner (45+8), Gosens responded by pushing a cross from Janik Haberer over the line at the far post (45th+13).
In the second half the game lost pace. After a good quarter of an hour, Mainz's Ajorque clashed again with referee Petersen: He already had the red card in his hand for the striker who had already been warned after a swoop, but Ajorque escaped punishment because he was offside anyway. Aïssa Laïdouni initiated the next strange scene in the Union penalty area with a ricochet, Karim Onisiwo headed the unsuccessful attempt to clear from three meters just wide of the goal (73').
Yorbe Vertessen shot the ball into the arms of Mainz keeper Robin Zentner in a one-on-one (88th). Nothing more came from the hosts. As a result, Mainz remains in 17th place in a direct relegation zone - six points behind Union, which, currently 15th, would be the last club that would definitely remain in the league.
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