One hell of a game so far. 1-1, about 30' in. Cottbus scored, then Mainz got a questionable penalty--first try was saved, but the ref called a retake. Second attempt scored, in the debate after the PK seven or eight Cottbus players surrounded the ref--one (mid Latoundji) was sent off. Then Berhalter's central defense partner was sent off a couple of minutes later for an altercation with a Mainz player. Cottbus down to nine guys.
Berhalter with a vital tackle to force a corner. Minutes later, Mainz scores, 42'. Da Silva gives the ball away from about 20-25 yards out, Mainz's Teinert has a breakaway, Cottbus keeper comes out to try to clear, but Teinert gets there first and scores from the edge of the area.
Early in the second half, and it's 3-1 to Mainz. Doesn't seem like Berhalter is directly at fault for any of the goals.
Minutes 20-26: Mainz has a counter attack, a Cottbus defender slightly pushes the forward in the box and clears with a tackle. Mainz protests, wants a pk (‘can but no must-give-situation’). Cottbus starts a counter attack instead and scores the 1-0. No minute later a Mainz forward runs into the box, a Cottbus defender holds out his hand and the forward takes the chance to go down – surely clumsy by the defender, but usually you don’t whistle it if the forward is falling that easily. However, the ref gives pk – very likely influenced by the scene leading to the 1-0. Mainz fails the pk and the ref gives it a second time as a Cottbus player stepped into the box too early – formally correct, but such things are not even whistled in 1% of the cases and here it was even more harmless than usual. Mainz equalises with the second try, Cottbus naturally protests and loses a player with an ejection because of that. This causes more protests, the ref does not react but notes it for possible later consequences by the German FA (Berhalter was among the complaining players). No five minutes later there is a struggle between a Mainz and a Cottbus player – the ref books Mainz’ player and ejects the guy from Cottbus although it was pretty similar what both did… Sixty minutes with 9 vs 11 were the consequence. Positive for Berhalter: the announcer liked him… called him “Cottbus’ one-on-one monster” for his season stats… and especially for this game he called Berhalter “simply sensational what he works and wins in one-on-one situations”… this was before the 1-4 though, which was a mistake by Berhalter, who had a bad timing for a header in this situation. Oh yes, final score was 1-4... The announcer called the ref 'man of the match'...
kicker rating is published on Thursday, will most likely be a 6 for the ref... as the pictures proved afterwards, both ejections for Cottbus were simply wrong... the first one was for applauding - the ref somehow thought (or rather 'wanted to believe') that it was aimed to him, but it was clearly directed to the forwards, who were standing at the middle line and waited for the kick off - at that moment of the applause the ref even was in the back of the player, so it practically is impossible that was intended for him... and the second ejection was for knocking the opponent down with the head as the ref assistant said - in reality there wasn't even a slightest hint for such an action... Cottbus has chances to promote. Yesterday Mainz overtook Cottbus and pushed them from promotion spot 3, but they are just one point down.
Man, what a chaotic game! I agree with you Olaf that the first ejection was harsh (but the Cottbus players really went ballistic and lost complete control)...however from my vantage point in the stadium, the second ejection stemmed from the Cottbus player stamping on the Mainz player who was on the ground---after the clash of heads or whatever. Perhaps the Cottbus player felt the Mainzer embellished his fall or injury. However, it was not innocous...and brought a practically all out brawl. The linesman saw it well, and when the referee (all though, in this case, I use that term loosely!) conferred with him he correctly showed the red. Perhaps the tv cameras missed this off the ball incident. The penalty that wasn't whistled seemed in the stadium a clear penalty...the second that was whistled seemed to be a make-up call of sorts and was...umm, not as clear. The stepping in the box to early call was laughable. Berhalter had a good game (especially considering playing down 2 men on the road...he even wore the captian's armband after Cottbus' captain was sent off)---much of the time he was marking Benni Auer (a German U-21 player)...arguably Mainz's best forward (although the U-21 coach called him fat...even though he was at that point the leading scorer for that team, but I digress). However, Berhalter's lack of pace was exposed on several occasions (when Auer beats you with pace...umm, that's not a good sign) and he was roasted for a nice header by Auer as well. Before seeing this game, I thought Cottbus would most likely go straight back up...after seeing them implode so laughably...their coach ran up the first row of stands and sat on the rail, at one point...you have to wonder at their lack of composure.