Mainz safe after win at relegation-threatened St Pauli
Mainz' Phillipp Mwene (L) celebrates scoring his side's second with Nadiem Amiri during the German Bundesliga soccer match between the FC St. Pauli and FSV Mainz 05 at the Millerntor Stadium. Christian Charisius/dpa Mainz secured their place in the Bundesliga for next season and left St Pauli deep in the mire after a 2-1 away win on Sunday.
Phillip Tietz opened the scoring early on when Mainz pounced on a St Pauli mistake in their own half and Sheraldo Becker laid on the assist. Left wingback Phillip Mwene then further silenced the Millerntor with the second from close range before half-time. Abdoulie Ceesay's goal for the home side came too late.
Mainz were bottom when former Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer took over in December, but the Swiss has masterminded their surge up the league and they now sit 10th with two games left. Hamburg-based St Pauli remain third-bottom in the relegation play-off spot having not won in eight games and are six points from safety with an inferior goal difference. They travel to RB Leipzig next Saturday and finish up at home to fellow strugglers Wolfsburg.
A relegation play-off berth now looks St Pauli's best option. Bottom side Heidenheim drew 3-3 at champions Bayern Munich on Saturday and now live to fight for another weekend. Borussia Mönchengladbach, who need a win to be safe, are also hosting second-placed Borussia Dortmund on Sunday ahead of second-bottom Wolfsburg going to European hopefuls Freiburg in eighth.
St Pauli are a point above 2009 champions Wolfsburg (25), who fill the two automatic relegation places along with Heidenheim (23). Mainz' Nadiem Amiri (L) and St. Pauli's Connor Metcalfe battle for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between the FC St.