Mainz 1 - 1 Anderlecht: Lukasz Teodorczyk grabs point for Anderlecht

Posted Friday, October 21, 2016 by PA

Lukasz Teodorczyk's second-half header saw Mainz and Anderlecht share the spoils from a 1-1 Europa League draw at the Coface Arena.

Yunus Malli slotted home from the spot after Pablo De Blasis was tripped inside the Anderlecht box inside the opening 10 minutes, but Teodorczyk's header secured a point for the Belgian side.

Mainz started positively as Gaetan Bussmann saw his effort blocked before Anderlecht's Nicolae Stanciu missed the target. But Rouven Schroder's men went in front when De Blasis was fouled by defender Olivier Deschacht, giving referee Jesus Gil Manzano no choice but to award a penalty.

Malli dispatched the spot-kick with confidence to give the Bundesliga side the lead. Anderlecht looked shaky after conceding and failed to clear their lines moments later as Jean-Philippe Gbamin picked up a loose ball but his low shot sailed wide of the goal.

Karim Onisiwo came within inches of doubling Mainz's advantage when the forward's shot from the right wing skimmed the post. De Blasis then went close to scoring Mainz's second when the midfielder was found at the back post but his header was deflected for a corner.

The game opened up after the break with Frank Acheampong firing well wide on the break as the visitors grew in confidence but Anderlecht were rewarded for their encouraging start in the 65th minute.

Anderlecht skipper Sofiane Hanni floated in a well-timed cross before Teodorczyk, who is currently on loan from Dynamo Kiev, headed past Mainz's goalkeeper Jonas Lossl to equalise for Rene Weiler's side.

Both sides pushed for the winner in the last 15 minutes and Anderlecht almost gifted the hosts the all-important goal. Daniel Brosinski's ambitious strike from distance looked to be saved by Davy Roef but the Belgian goalkeeper almost spilled the ball into the path of Jhon Cordoba.

Roef did, however, manage to snuffle the second attempt to keep the scores level.

Although there were no clear-cut chances in the last 10 minutes, Malli saw a late effort miss the target as both sides remain level on five points in Group C, with Anderlecht staying top on goal difference.