FSV Mainz 05 held on for a 2-1 victory at Millerntor-Stadion, with Phillipp Mwene's early strike and Silvan Widmer's assist setting the tone for a dominant away performance.
FC St. Pauli faced Mainz in a crucial Bundesliga clash on May 3rd. St. Pauli sat 16th with just 26 points from 31 matches. Mainz arrived in 10th place with 34 points, fresh off consecutive wins and looking to climb higher.
Mainz struck first with stunning speed. Phillip Tietz fired past the St. Pauli defense in the 6th minute, giving the visitors an early advantage. The home crowd fell silent as Mainz dominated the opening exchanges.
Mainz doubled their lead before halftime. Phillipp Mwene added a second goal in the 40th minute, capitalizing on St. Pauli's defensive struggles. The away side controlled possession and created chances at will during the opening 45 minutes.
St. Pauli needed a reaction. They trailed 2-0 at the break and faced an uphill battle. Mainz had already registered six shots on target compared to St. Pauli's three.
The second half saw St. Pauli push forward relentlessly. However, Mainz's defense held firm for most of the period. The home side created chances but lacked the cutting edge needed to break through.
St. Pauli finally broke through in the 87th minute. Abdoulie Ceesay, recently introduced as a substitute, fired home to make it 2-1. The goal sparked hope among the home supporters with time running out.
Mainz defended resolutely in the closing stages. Despite St. Pauli's late pressure, the visitors held their nerve. Yellow cards flew as both teams grew tense in the final minutes.
The statistics painted a picture of Mainz's control. Mainz attempted 17 total shots compared to St. Pauli's 10. Expected goals favored Mainz at 2.35 versus 0.86 for the hosts.
Possession remained fairly even at 52-48 in St. Pauli's favor. Yet Mainz's efficiency proved decisive. Mwene earned a rating of 8.2 for his standout performance, while Ceesay impressed in limited time with a 7.7 rating.
This result keeps St. Pauli in the relegation zone with 26 points. Mainz climbed to 37 points with the win. The away side's form improved to two consecutive victories.
St. Pauli must find consistency quickly. Mainz can build on this strong performance in their remaining fixtures.
