Mainz comeback stuns UEFA Conference League rivals Fiorentina
Substitute Jae-Sung Lee scored deep into added time as Mainz overturned a deficit to defeat Fiorentina, maintaining their perfect start in this season’s UEFA Conference League with three consecutive wins.
Match Summary
- Mainz 2–1 Fiorentina
- Goals: 0–1 Sohm (assist: Piccoli) 16', 1–1 Hollerbach 68' (assist: Lee), 2–1 Lee 90'+5 (assist: Sano)
First Half
Coming off 1–0 victories over Omonia Nicosia and Zrinjski Mostar, Mainz started confidently but fell behind when Danny Costa’s misplaced pass was intercepted. Simon Sohm, set up by Roberto Piccoli, struck decisively from the edge of the box to give Fiorentina the lead.
Goalkeeper Robin Zentner then denied Piccoli a second, while defender Kacper Potulski blocked a dangerous effort before the halftime whistle.
Second Half
Piccoli missed an early chance after the restart, and Mainz took advantage soon after. Substitute Benedikt Hollerbach, on the pitch for less than three minutes, equalized after combining with Jae-Sung Lee for a flowing team goal.
Fiorentina substitute Moise Kean later headed over an empty goal, wasting a golden opportunity. Mainz seized the moment in stoppage time as Lee nodded in Kaishu Sano’s cross to complete the turnaround and seal a dramatic home victory.
“Mainz snatched victory in the fifth minute of added time to keep their flawless European start alive.”
Next Match
Mainz will face Universitatea Craiova in Romania on 27 November in their next Conference League outing.
Author’s summary: Mainz celebrated a thrilling stoppage-time comeback over Fiorentina, extending their flawless Conference League campaign with a third straight win.