Mainz Vs Vfb Stuttgart: Da Costa rescues late 2–2 draw after Stuttgart’s quick turnaround
mainz vs vfb stuttgart finished 2–2 on Bundesliga matchday 25, with 1. FSV Mainz 05 surrendering a lead but celebrating a dramatic late equalizer. Mainz led through Jae-sung Lee before VfB Stuttgart surged ahead with two goals in quick succession. Danny da Costa then struck in stoppage time to snatch a point for the hosts, in a game framed by Mainz’s relegation battle and Stuttgart’s push to control matches through possession.
Match turning points: Lee leads, Stuttgart hits back, da Costa levels
Mainz went in front in the 39th minute when Jae-sung Lee scored from close range with a header after a corner, following a robust duel involving Paul Nebel, Phillip Tietz, and Danny da Costa. The lead was described as deserved as Mainz grew into the match after a difficult opening spell.
Stuttgart’s response arrived late. Ermedin Demirovic equalized in the 76th minute, and just two minutes later Deniz Undav completed the turnaround in the 78th to put the visitors in front. Mainz refused to let it slip entirely: Danny da Costa made it 2–2 in stoppage time at 90+1, sealing the final score.
How the game unfolded: early Stuttgart pressure, Mainz surge, second-half swings
Stuttgart started with early attacking intent. In the 4th minute, Undav’s set-piece sequence found Maximilian Mittelstädt, whose curling effort was pushed over the bar by Mainz goalkeeper Daniel Batz. The visitors kept Mainz pinned back early, and Jamie Leweling nearly connected with Undav in the box in the 9th minute.
Mainz’s first sustained threat arrived later, including a chance in the 20th minute when Nebel found space in the penalty area and looked for Tietz, only for Luca Jaquez to clear in extremis. The match opened up into a lively exchange, with Leweling firing just wide in the 24th and Nebel seeing an effort blocked in the 26th after work from Sheraldo Becker.
A key flashpoint came in the 29th minute when Mainz thought they had scored through a Tietz rebound, but referee Matthias Jöllenbeck disallowed the goal after ruling a foul by Silvan Widmer on Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel—described as a debatable decision. Mainz stayed on the front foot: Tietz missed from close range in the 30th minute, and Phillipp Mwene fired over when left completely unmarked 14 meters out in the 32nd.
After the break, Stuttgart returned with more momentum. Undav had a central chance blocked by da Costa in the 49th minute, while Mainz countered immediately and tested Nübel through Kaishu Sano in the 50th. Mainz continued to threaten on transitions, with Becker denied from close range by a strong Nübel save in the 55th.
Immediate reactions: Mwene on stakes, Stuttgart’s approach, and Mainz’s mindset
Before the meeting, Phillipp Mwene, Mainz 05 player, underlined the pressure on every result in the run-in: “The games are always super important. We have to use our good run to get more points. ” He also noted Mainz had been close in other matches but “unfortunately” conceded late equalizers.
On the tactical expectation, Mwene said Stuttgart would look for control: “Stuttgart will want a lot of possession and control of the game. ” He added he expected a similar pattern to a recent match Mainz played against Leverkusen.
Quick context
Mainz entered the match in a relegation fight, making the late equalizer especially significant in terms of momentum and belief. Stuttgart arrived with Champions League ambitions and a clear intent to impose possession and control.
What’s next
For Mainz, the immediate task is to turn the emotional lift of this stoppage-time equalizer into points in the matches ahead, while maintaining the calm Mwene described as crucial in a relegation battle. For Stuttgart, the late concession will sharpen the focus on closing out leads after finally turning the game with a rapid two-goal burst. One thing is certain from this chaotic finish: mainz vs vfb stuttgart delivered a point that felt like a win for the hosts and a missed opportunity for the visitors.
