Tietz scores, Schalke still without a home goal – Karaman calls duels 'abysmal'
Mainz win their third away game of the season. Schalke lose 1-0 and stay goalless in a third home match; captain Kenan Karaman calls his team's duel play 'abysmal.'
Symbolic image · Photo: Walter Koch / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Mainz 05 won 1-0 at promoted Schalke 04 on Saturday. Phillip Tietz scored in the 24th minute from a low cross by Anthony Caci, his fifth goal of the season. It was a third win in three away games for Urs Fischer's team, which moved provisionally into fifth place with 10 points. Former Mainz goalkeeper Loris Karius kept the defeat from being heavier for Schalke.
Schalke suffered their first home defeat of the season and have not scored in three Bundesliga home games. "That was our worst game so far," captain Kenan Karaman said, adding that "our duel play was abysmal." Coach Miron Muslic agreed: "That is a clear analysis, but also an honest one."
Schalke are 14th with five points. Mainz host Werder Bremen next Saturday, Oct. 24.