Mainz 2 : 2 SC Freiburg - Bell snatches point for Mainz

Posted Sunday, November 23, 2014 by PA

Stefan Bell salvaged a last-gasp point for Mainz to end Freiburg's recent revival with a 2-2 draw at the Coface Arena.

Mainz took the lead through Junior Diaz, but Jonathan Schmid and Admir Mehmedi turned the game in Freiburg's favour.

Bell had the final say, though, salvaging a point in the 88th minute when it looked more likely that Freiburg would add a third.

After going eight games unbeaten at the start of the season, Mainz had not won in their last three coming into this game.

Freiburg, after a run of nine games without savouring victory, had pulled themselves out of the bottom three with two wins on the spin and picked up some self-confidence.

That did not necessarily show early on, though, as Christian Streich's men concentrated more on defending and trying to hit Mainz on the break.

They were forced into a rethink of that strategy when they fell behind in the 27th minute, however.

Johannes Geis' free-kick was met just six yards out by Junior Diaz, and his volley beat Roman Burki in the Freiburg goal.

Clearly buoyed by the goal, Mainz peppered the Freiburg goal for several minutes before being dealt the sucker punch on the half-hour mark.

Mehmedi, the man Mainz coach Kaspar Hjulmand had singled out as Freiburg's danger man before the game, proved him right by sending in a cross for Schmid to head the visitors level.

The roles were reversed in the 58th minute when Schmid's corner was headed in by Mehmedi to put Freiburg in front.

Streich's men had chances to increase their lead, but Mainz were always a threat and Shinji Okazaki twice went close to levelling.

When it looked like Mainz had run out of ideas and Freiburg were just playing the clock down to what would have been a third straight win, Okazaki delivered a cross to the far post which Bell bundled in from close range.