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Mainz's Sota Kawasaki (C) scores his side's first goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League soccer match between Lech Poznan and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at Enea Stadium. Matthias Koch/Sportfoto Matthias Koch./dpa
Ten-man Mainz fought to a 1-1 draw at Lech Poznan on Thursday in the debut match of new coach Urs Fischer to reach the Conference League knock-outs and keep up their hopes of qualifying directly for the last 16.
Sota Kawasaki opened the scoring a minute after coming on in the 27th when he converted a cross from the left by Benedict Hollerback at the far right post by sneaking between Poznan goalkeeper Bartosz Morzak and a defender.
Mainz had a second from Benedict Hollerback five minutes later nullified because he was offside in the build-up but Kawasaki then fouled Luis Palma and Mikael Ishak calmly converted from the spot for 1-1 in Panenka style.
Things got worse for Mainz when Nikolas Veratschnig was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 66th minute.
Poznan fought for the winner but Mainz goalkeeper Daniel Batz saved well from Ishak and Leo Bengtsson headed wide.
"The point is very important for the team in our situation," Batz told broadcasters RTL. "We need this resilience. Every moment of success counts."
Bundesliga bottom club Mainz in eighth place have 10 points with one match left and are assured of at least a play-off spot for the teams placed ninth to 24. The top eight go directly into the last 16.
Poznan are 20th with seven points going into next week's final matchday of the league phase.
Fischer, who in the past led Union Berlin into the Champions League, was appointed Mainz coach early in the week in succession of Bo Henriksen.
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Mainz's Sota Kawasaki (2nd L) celebrates scoring his side's first goal with teammates Jae-sung Lee (L), Benedict Hollerbach and Nikolas Veratschnig (R) during the UEFA Europa Conference League soccer match between Lech Poznan and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at Enea Stadium. Matthias Koch/Sportfoto Matthias Koch./dpa
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Mainz's Sota Kawasaki celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League soccer match between Lech Poznan and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at Enea Stadium. Matthias Koch/Sportfoto Matthias Koch./dpa
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