Burkardt strike helps Mainz hold Frankfurt | OneFootball

Mainz and Eintracht Frankfurt share spoils in Rhine-Main derby

European hopefuls Mainz played their hearts out in a bid to clinch a precious win against Champions League-chasing Eintracht Frankfurt, but the hosts ultimately couldn't find a winner after Jonathan Burkardt cancelled out Rasmus Kristensen's opener.

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Mainz 1-1 Eintracht FrankfurtGoals: 0-1 Kristensen 16' (assist: Ekitiké), 1-1 Burkardt 57'

Frankfurt arrived knowing a win would secure their place in next season's UEFA Champions League, while Mainz harboured ambitions of jumping into a Europa League spot.

Rasmus Kristensen celebrates after scoring the opening goal for Eintracht Frankfurt. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV)

Early chances and setbacks

The match burst into life immediately, with Hugo Ekitiké forcing a save from Lasse Rieß in the opening minute. This set the tone for a frenetic start, but Mainz soon faced adversity. In the 10th minute, Dominik Kohr suffered a knee injury and had to be replaced. The hosts' woes were compounded when Danny da Costa also succumbed to injury in the 25th minute.

Players from both Mainz and Frankfurt engage in an intense midfield battle. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV)

Frankfurt strike first

Amidst Mainz's injury troubles, Eintracht Frankfurt capitalised. In the 16th minute, Kristensen broke the deadlock. The Danish defender, making a return to the starting lineup, started - and finished - a well-worked move. Ekitiké provided the assist, threading a precise pass for Kristensen to slot home and put Frankfurt in the driver's seat.

Burkardt's leveller may have been unorthodox, but it got the 05ers right back into the match. (Christian Kaspar-Bartke)

Mainz's resilience tested

Despite the setbacks, Bo Henriksen's hosts showed admirable resilience. Andreas Hanche-Olsen came close to equalising with a header, while Jae-sung Lee had a goal disallowed for offside just before half-time. Frankfurt, meanwhile, looked to extend their lead, with Ansgar Knauff's effort going wide in first-half stoppage time.

There was no shortage of tough-tackling action as the final minutes ticked down. (Christian Kaspar-Bartke)

Burkardt brings Mainz level

Mainz's persistence paid off in the 57th minute when Burkardt found the equaliser. The goal came from a Widmer throw-in, with Hanche-Olsen flicking the ball on in the box. Burkardt, alert to the opportunity, blocked Kristensen's attempted clearance, with the resulting ball bobbling up over Kevin Trapp and acros the line.

Tension rises as clock ticks down

With the scores level and so much at stake, both teams pushed for a winner in the closing stages. Ekitiké came agonisingly close in the 88th minute, lobbing the ball over Rieß but watching it drift just wide of the post. Not to be outdone, Burkardt had a chance to be the hero for Mainz in the 90th minute, but his left-footed effort sailed over the crossbar.

The final whistle blew with the scores level, a result that kept both teams' European dreams alive.

Player of the Match: Jonathan Burkardt

While several players put in noteworthy performances, Burkardt's contribution was crucial for Mainz. His equaliser not only salvaged a point for his team but also marked his 16th goal of the season, equalling the club record. The striker's ability to find the net in this high-pressure encounter underlines his importance to Mainz's European ambitions.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: Mainz 1.78 - Frankfurt 1.22Fastest player: Knauff (Frankfurt), 34.94 km/hLowest goal probability: 1-1 by Burkardt (Mainz), 20.4 percentMost pressed player: Paul Nebel (Mainz), 22 times under pressurePass efficiency: Amiri (Mainz), +3.36

Fantasy Heroes: Kristensen (Frankfurt, 319 Points), Kaishu Sano (Mainz, 253 Points), Hanche-Olsen (Mainz, 231 Points)

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