Strasbourg Thrash Mainz 4-0 to Make First-Ever European Semi-Final

Julio Enciso inspires Strasbourg comeback, Mainz crash out of Europe

Julio Enciso inspired Strasbourg to a historic 4-0 win over Mainz, overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit to reach the Conference League semi-finals for the first time. Goals from Nanasi, Ouattara, Enciso and Emegha sealed the comeback at Stade de la Meinau.

Strasbourg rallied from a first-leg setback as they swept aside Mainz with an emphatic 4-0 victory on home soil to reach the semi-final...

Strasbourg overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit with a commanding 4-0 home win over Mainz, booking a spot in a major European semi-final for the first time in club history.

 

Down 2-0 from the first leg in Germany, Strasbourg sparked into life midway through the first half as they looked to cut Mainz’s lead.

After a slow start at the Stade de la Meinau, the tie nearly shifted in the 19th minute when Dominik Kohr was lucky to avoid a red card for elbowing Diego Moreira. Gary O’Neil’s angry protests on the touchline went nowhere, and Moreira almost hit back instantly with an acrobatic scissor-kick that drew a sharp save from Mainz keeper Daniel Batz.

  

With Strasbourg finally finding rhythm, Sebastian Nanasi broke the deadlock. He timed his run to meet Julio Enciso’s cut-back and finished, as the hosts took control of the game.

Abdoul Ouattara’s half-volley from distance curled just past the post and Enciso forced another sharp save from Batz as Strasbourg played with growing confidence. The two then combined, with Ouattara thumping home a header from six yards to wipe out Mainz’s advantage.

The half-time break gave Urs Fischer a chance to reset, and he introduced playmaker Nadiem Amiri to give Mainz more purpose in attack. Still, Strasbourg kept harassing them, pressing at every chance and staying on the front foot.

What. A. Game. 🤩#UECL pic.twitter.com/xN0Y6Owwsk

— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) April 16, 2026

Racing wasted a perfect chance to take the aggregate lead when Batz saved substitute Emmanuel Emegha’s penalty after Valentin Barco went down in the box.

Strasbourg’s persistence paid off. Martial Godo weaved through Mainz’s flat-footed defence and Enciso took the chance, firing Racing into a decisive 3-0 lead on the night and flipping the tie.

  

Five minutes later Strasbourg struck again. Emegha made up for his earlier miss, with Enciso capping a superb display by picking out the Chelsea-bound striker to seal their place in the competition’s last four.

With their late push for a way back proving futile, a dejected Mainz side will have to reflect on failing to build on the commanding first-leg advantage they gave themselves. It was a night that will live long in the memory for O’Neil’s team.

Julio Enciso 🅰️🅰️⚽️#UECL pic.twitter.com/UPoJnrHqjS

— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) April 16, 2026