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Disappointment for Mainz

August 8, 2014

After a much-anticipated return to European competition, Mainz have been eliminated at the first hurdle. The Bundesliga club lost 3-1 to Greek outfit Asteras Tripolis, eliminating them from the Europa League.

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Asteras Tripolis - 1. FSV Mainz 05 Europa League, Qualifikation Rückspiel
Image: Imago

A tight 1-0 home win in the first leg was outdone by a poor away performance by Mainz on Thursday as they went out 3-2 on aggregate to Tripolis in Europa League third round qualifying. It's a disappointing start to the season for new coach Kasper Hjulmand, who now can only focus on the upcoming Bundesliga season.

Tripolis captain Pablo de Blasis put the hosts 1-0 up on the half-hour mark, but Mainz's Koo Ja-cheol equalized nine minutes later. A ball from Yunus Malli on the right flank found Koo in the penalty area, and his right-footed shot brought the score level.

Mainz goalkeeper Loris Karius made two good saves 20 minutes after the restart, but Tripolis pulled ahead in the 68th minute with a goal from striker Pablo Mazza on the counterattack. As Mainz attempted to climb back into the match, Mazza added a second four minutes from time to seal the result, and send Tripolis into the playoff round.

It's Mainz's first significant loss under Hjulmand just two weeks before the start of the Bundesliga season.

Disappointing beginning

"This is pure disappointment, but it's our own fault," said Mainz midfielder Julian Baumgartlinger after the match. "We can't just give away the game like that."

The offseason departures of key attackers like Maxim Choupo-Moting and Nicolai Müller, coupled with the loss of coach Thomas Tuchel, put Mainz in a difficult period of transition. But there was hope a young coach like Hjulmand, who enjoyed success at Danish side Nordsjaelland, could replicate the magic of his predecessor.

"We knew that the beginning of the season was going to be hard because of all the departures," said midfielder Johannes Geis.

The loss means Mainz have now failed to reach the Europa League group stage in three attempts. Their last appearance in the competition came in the 2011, when they also were eliminated in third round qualifying to Romanian club Gaz Metan Medias.

Mainz's next competitive match comes August 15 away to third-tier Chemnitzer FC in the opening round of the German Cup.

dr/av (SID, dpa)