Mainz 0-1 Augbsurg: 1st minute goal seals victory for Bavarians

Augsburg have all but confirmed their stay in the top flight while plunging Mainz into further danger after a 1-0 win at the Opel Arena. 

Florian Niederlechner's tidy finish inside the opening 45 seconds in the Rhineland-Palatinate condemned Die Nullfünfer to another defeat, which means they face a huge task if they are to stay in the Bundesliga. 

The home side dominated proceedings on home turf but simply couldn't find a breakthrough against their Bavarian counterparts, who are now comfortably seven points clear of the drop zone with three games to play. 

• Story of the Match

In a game which had huge repercussions for both sides, the biggest surprise of the afternoon was the speed in which the contest burst into life.

A little over 40 seconds were on the clock when Florian Niederlechner turned on the spot and flicked Carlos Gruezo's headed ball over his namesake Florian Müller in the Mainz goal to put Augsburg ahead. It was his first goal in ten games, ending his drought in tremendous acrobatic style. 

Things were to get worse for the home side shortly after when Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi was forced off with a head injury after a nasty collision with Felix Uduokhai. He was replaced by Karim Onisiwo. 

Before the break, Jean-Philippe Mateta should have equalised for Mainz as he broke the offside trap and rounded goalkeeper Andreas Luthe, but he was denied by Philipp Max, who raced back to clear the ball off the line. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, he was denied again - this time by goalkeeper Luthe - as his bullet header was pushed aside. 

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Ahead of the second half, Achim Beierlorzer also brought on Ridle Baku for his return from suspension, replacing Phillip Mwene and Mainz immediately began asking questions of the Augsburg defence. 

Much like their recent defeat to Hoffenheim, the hosts were doing all the right things but struggling to find the back of the net. Both Danny Latza and Mateta came close again but the visitors stood resolute and blocked both chances. 

The longer play went on, the more it felt like Mainz were destined not to find the back of the net, and their frustrations began to show with niggly challenges and misplaced passes. Beierlorzer threw the dice again, this time switching Leandro Barreiro for Jean-Paul Böetius. 

It simply wasn't falling for the home side, despite the fact the visitors had rarely threatened in the second half. Now with all five substitutes made, the changed side continued to pile the pressure on Augsburg with all hands to the pump, but still nothing came. 

Mainz must now go to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday and try to complete the unlikely upset. 

• Takeaways

Mainz staring down the barrel

Defeat to Augsburg was the worst possible outcome for the home side, who now face the tough task of staying in the Bundesliga. With two of their remaining games now away at Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, Mainz can simply not afford to lose next weekend's crucial six pointer against an upwardly mobile Werder Bremen. 

They've generally been better away from home, but it's at the Opel Arena that they'll face Bremen, knowing that defeat could spell the end of their Bundesliga journey. 

Once again, Mainz had plenty of chances but failed to convert. It's the third time since the restart that they've fired a blank and stats show that just one striker has scored in their last six matches. At one point today, they had four attackers on the pitch, but still couldn't break down the Augsburg defence. 

• Man of the Match - Florian Niederlechner

He had a fairly quiet afternoon, but that matters little when he's scored the goal that effectively keeps Augsburg in the top tier of German football for another season. 

He swivelled perfectly and acrobatically to fire his side ahead inside the opening minute of the game with his first goal in ten outings. Making the most of Mainz's defensive frailties, he also had another couple of chances to put his side further ahead.