Bayern Munich 1-2 Mainz: Oh Fives Go Ten Points Clear Of Disappointing Hosts
Mainz picked up a deserved win over the German champions...
By Clark Whitney
Table-toppers Mainz earned a deserved 2-1 victory over defending champions Bayern Munich on Saturday afternoon, increasing the gap between the teams to ten points. For the first time this season, the hosts were challenged in midfield, and needed a stroke of luck to get on the scoreboard.
Sami Allagui scored a cheeky, brilliant opener in the 15th minute, but Bo Svensson and goalkeeper Christian Wetklo later crossed their signals, and the Danish defender headed in an own goal. Adam Szalai won the game for the visitors when he blasted a shot past Hans-Joerg-Butt in the 77th minute.
From the opening kick-off, this afternoon's highly anticipated match completely lived up to its expectations. Within five minutes, Ivica Olic, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Allagui all came within inches of opening the scoring, but were either narrowly off target or denied by good goalkeeping.
Unused to the high-pressing nature of the Mainz defence, Bayern looked a bit susceptible at the back, and just lacked sharpness in attack. Miroslav Klose missed a clear chance on 14 minutes, and the hosts were made to pay for their sloppiness moments later as Allagui back-heeled Lewis Holtby's cross into the net.
Having gone ahead, Mainz settled in, but refused to give up their tenacious, pressuring approach. Stunned, Bayern only really began to find their form in the closing moments of the first half. Thomas Mueller brilliantly set up Toni Kroos, but the youngster missed when clear on goal. Moments later, Klose's header deflected off the inside of the post, and it appeared that Bayern were out of luck.
As events would unfold, Mainz would seem the team out of luck. Expecting goalkeeper Christian Wetklo to be on his line, Bo Svensson back-passed a header. Wetklo was actually expecting to claim the ball himself, and it trickled agonisingly over the line to level the score.
After the break, Holtby was forced to withdraw with a calf strain, and Mainz looked a bit less sharp in attack. Bayern struggled to create anything, and had to resort to the occasional long shot.
Late in the game, with one of their few chances of the second half, Mainz struck once more. Substitute Andre Schuerrle crossed towards Szalai, who controlled well with his first touch, brilliantly turned, and fired an unstoppable shot into the upper-right corner.
Bayern coach Louis van Gaal rolled the dice late by sending centre half Daniel van Buyten into the attacking fray. The Belgian had a chance to level in the closing minutes, but his outstanding volley was stopped by an even more amazing save by Wetklo, and the visitors held on for three points.
The result leaves Mainz with a perfect 18 points from six games, as they managed to stay in first place, ahead of Dortmund. Bayern remain eighth, with just eight points from six games.
