Eintracht Braunschweig have kept themselves alive in the battle against Bundesliga relegation with a 3-1 win over Mainz 05 on Tuesday night.

The home side started very brightly and could have gone ahead inside the opening minute, but Omar Elabdellaoui's shot from just outside the box fizzed wide of the post.

Yunus Malli for the away side was the first player to test either goalkeeper, but his shot from distance was comfortably gathered by Daniel Davari.

Braunschweig's strong start was rewarded after 18 minutes. Ken Reichel nodded the ball back across goal from a free kick for Dominick Kumbela to head the hosts in front.

The lead, however, lasted just two minutes. Nicolai Muller was found by Zdenek Pospech to fire into the roof of the net from the middle of the box.

Just as it looked as though the sides would go in level, Havard Nielsen rifled in from close range after a free kick had found its way to him.

With a little over 10 minutes to play the points were secured as Kumbela brought down an Elabdellaoui cross into the box and finished low.