Shinji Okazaki scored a 75th-minute equaliser at Stadion Nürnberg as Mainz 05 came from behind to deny Nuremberg their first win of the Bundesliga season.

The hosts were in the relegation zone prior to kickoff having drawn eight and lost six of their opening 14 matches, but Per Nilsson gave them an early advantage.

The Swedish defender stooped low to head a cross from the left under Mainz keeper Loris Karius, who scrambled to try to claw the ball back before it went over the line on five minutes.

Another defensive error nearly cost Mainz a second shortly afterwards, as Stefan Bell sliced a clearance towards Adam Hlousek at the back post, but the Czech midfielder could not steer his effort on target.

Okazaki came close to levelling the scores twice in a minute, when he had a long-range shot turned behind by Nuremburg keeper Raphael Schafer, and then headed wide from the resulting corner.

Karius was in suspect form all evening and when he was rounded by Daniel Ginczek, it appeared as though the hosts would double their lead, but Junior Diaz was on hand to make a last-ditch clearance.

Nuremburg continued to be the more threatening of the two sides, but were caught out on the break as Okazaki ghosted between the two centre-backs before finishing across goal into the bottom corner.

Mainz striker Petar Sliskovic was sent off in stoppage time for a professional foul on Schafer to further frustrate Mainz, who miss out on the chance to climb above Hertha Berlin and to seventh in the table.