Apart from Aymen Barkok, Rafael Santos Borré and Ajdin Hrustic – who are currently away on international duty – Eintracht were without eight other first-team players for Thursday’s friendly. Ragnar Ache and Daichi Kamada were absent through injury, while Stefan Ilsanker has tested positive for COVID-19.
Makoto Hasebe, Martin Hinteregger, Filip Kostic, Evan Ndicka and Kevin Trapp were all rested, but fit-again Hauge and Lenz were named in the starting line-up alongside recent loan acquisition Knauff.
Eagles push for opener
There were no goals in the opening 45 minutes at the Bruchwegstadion – but not for lack of trying. Almamy Toure sent a header narrowly wide inside the opening ten minutes, before Hauge curled an effort into the arms of Mainz goalkeeper Lasse Rieß from a promising position.
Mainz were a threat on the counter-attack and Diant Ramaj produced a fine double save to deny Anton Stach on the half-hour mark, but the Eagles continued to look the more likely scorers as half-time approached. Sam Lammers tested Rieß’s reflexes from a tight angle seven minutes before the break, but the 20-year-old was equal to the shot.
Tuta makes the difference
Eintracht made four changes at the interval, bringing on goalkeeper Jens Grahl as well as Erik Durm, Djibril Sow and Jesper Lindström. Unlike the first half, however, chances were few and far between at both ends in the early stages of the second period.
The game sparked into life again in the final 20 minutes as Eintracht finally broke the deadlock. Goncalo Paciencia collected Lindström’s pass inside the area before steering the ball into the path of Tuta, who was left with a simple finish. Mainz could have earned themselves a draw when Toure brought down Ben Bobzien in the box moments after Tuta’s opener, but Grahl saved Jean-Paul Boetius’ penalty.
SGE line-up
Ramaj (Grahl 46’) – da Costa, Tuta (Hyryläinen 81’), Toure – Knauff (Chandler 64’), Rode, (Sow 46’) Jakic. Lenz (Durm 46’) – Hauge (Lindström 46’) – Lammers (Pecar 81’), Paciencia (Foti 86’)
Goals
0-1 Tuta (74’)
