A thrilling Bundesliga encounter left Hoffenheim disappointed and Mainz relieved, as the latter snatched a late draw to deny their opponents a chance at the top three. The drama unfolded at the Mewa Arena, where a tense battle awaited.
Hoffenheim, riding high on four straight league wins, started with purpose. In a swift move, Maximilian Beier’s cross from the left found its way into the net, thanks to an unfortunate own goal by Andreas Hanche-Olsen, pressured by Fisnik Asllani. Hoffenheim dominated the first half, with Asllani and Vladimir Coufal testing Mainz’s keeper, Robin Zentner.
But here’s where it gets controversial… Mainz, facing relegation threats, showed resilience. After the break, they upped the ante, creating near-misses and frustrating Hoffenheim’s promising breaks. And this is the part most people miss: it was a corner kick that changed the game. Substitute Danny da Costa pounced on the chaos in the box to equalize in the 76th minute.
The finale was dramatic. Hoffenheim thought they had snatched victory in stoppage time when Ihlas Bebou headed home, but it was ruled out for handball. Coincidentally, moments earlier, Mainz’s Dominik Kohr received his ninth career red card, a Bundesliga record, for a reckless challenge. A new record and a controversial decision!
The result halted Hoffenheim’s winning streak and left them frustrated, missing out on a clear opportunity to climb the table. Meanwhile, Mainz, despite their struggles, gained a glimmer of hope in their battle against relegation.
What do you think? Was the handball decision fair? And will Mainz’s late show of resilience be enough to keep them afloat? Share your thoughts in the comments!