Nürnberg master Mainz to continue climb
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Article summary
1. FSV Mainz 05 missed the chance to move into the UEFA Europa League places with a 2-1 loss at upwardly mobile 1. FC Nürnberg, while Hannover 96 also endured frustration.
Article top media content
Article body
1. FSV Mainz 05's push for a UEFA Europa League place took a hit after they were defeated by two Per Nilsson goals in a 2-1 loss at 1. FC Nürnberg, who forced themselves into the European reckoning.
Victory would have pushed Mainz into the top six, but things did not go to plan in the first half as Ádám Szalai sent a penalty wide. Nilsson directed Hiroshi Kiyotake's free-kick past Christian Wetklo to put the hosts ahead on 54 minutes, but Mainz pulled level shortly afterwards as Nicolai Müller neatly lobbed in the equaliser.
However, Nilsson again was there to scramble in a corner to earn the win for Michael Wiesinger's men and move them to within a point of their opponents, and four off the European places with six games left to play.
Hannover 96 are also four points outside the top six after they were held 0-0 at home by VfB Stuttgart. Ron-Robert Zieler was required to deny Alexandru Maxim and Arthur Boka in added time to earn a draw for the hosts, who moved up to ninth, while the result leaves Stuttgart nine points clear of the relegation places in 13th.
