When Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper went down with an injury and was scheduled to miss a few months, manager Robin Dutt named David Yelldell his starter. Yelldell was purchased this summer from Duisburg to be an experienced back up for Adler. The fans wanted 21 year old Fabian Giefer in goal. They demanded it. After the club’s epic collapse against Bayer Leverkusen last week in the DFB Pokal, Dutt yielded to public pressure and went with Giefer. The move backfired today in “goal costing” fashion.
German Bundesliga, Week 1: Mainz Leads Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 At Halftime
Giefer received a simple back pass in the 32nd minute and played the ball out wide. He miss-kicked however, and Mainz’s Sami Allagui was quick to receive his error and put it in the back of the Leverkusen net to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
Mainz seems destined to finish low mid-table and possibly even slipping into the relegation battle, so a victory on opening day against Leverkusen would be huge for their confidence moving forward. If Leverkusen do lose here, I think Robin Dutt’s decision making will have to be questioned moving forward. How early do we start the “Leader of the Sack Race” list?
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