Mainz struggle to 3-2 success in Azerbaijan

Gabala 2-3 Mainz
(Gurbanov 57' pen, Zenjov 62' - Muto 41', Cordoba 68', Öztunali 78')

Mainz had to travel more than 3,200 kilometers for the match in Baku and coach Martin Schmidt had to deal with a host of injuries as the Bundesliga side continued their first campaign in the group stage of Europe’s second-tier club competition.

After Gabala defender Ricardinho directed a looping effort against a post in the 24th minute, Mainz pulled ahead four minutes before the break. Gaetan Bussmann fed Yoshinori Muto and the Japanese international directed a precise shot into the bottom corner.

Gabala had shown little sign they might overturn the deficit, but were level after 57 minutes. Filip Ozobic was felled by Mainz goalkeeper Jonas Lössl in the penalty area and Ruslan Gurbanov scored from the spot.

It got worse for Mainz five minutes later when Bagaliy Dabo slipped a pass into space for Sergei Zenjov and he thumped a shot across Lössl into the far corner.

Double substitution

Schmidt's two changes in the 67th minute, bringing on Cordoba and Öztunali, was to prove decisive.

First, Cordoba stabbed in a close-range volley less than a minute after coming on and 12 minutes from time Öztunali drove into the area on the right and fired a low shot in off a post. Cordoba had a chance to put Mainz out of sight in the 84th minute but his powerful effort was tipped onto the bar by Gabala keeper Dmytro Bezotosniy.

With Group C rivals Anderlecht due to play at Saint Etienne later on Thursday, Mainz top the standings on four points. Anderlecht have three and Saint Etienne one, with Gabala on zero.

Along with Macabi Tel Aviv, Gabala are the only team to have advanced from the first qualifying round to the group stage in this season's Europa League. They had won all four of their Europea home matches this season but only managed two points and scored two goals when they made their debut in the group stage last term.