1. FSV Mainz 05 clinched their next victory in the fight against relegation and continued their furious comeback. The Rheinhessen team won a well-deserved 4-1 (0-1) at home against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday and showed great passion and comeback qualities. After the opening goal for the guests by Pavel Kaderabek (19th minute), Jonathan Burkardt (47th), Phillipp Mwene (51st), Brajan Gruda (63rd) and Karim Onisiwo (88th) turned the game around in front of 32,000 spectators.
The Mainz team got their third win from the last four Bundesliga games and, in 16th place, increased the gap to the direct relegation places to four points. 15th place – which VfL Bochum occupies – and thus staying directly in the league is only one point away. Hoffenheim, on the other hand, suffered a bitter setback in the race for European Cup qualification after a disappointing performance.
“It’s the next final for us,” Mainz coach Bo Henriksen said before matchday 29, after his team had taken seven points from the previous three games and was thus back within striking distance of the non-relegation places. The 05ers also carried their momentum and self-confidence into the game against Hoffenheim.
Mainz put Kraichgauer under pressure right from the start and created several good opportunities. A goal by Leandro Barreiro did not count due to an offside position (1st). Afterwards, Mwene (14th) and Burkardt (14th/16th) missed the early lead for the wildly attacking home team.
Unfazed by the deficit
The poor exploitation of opportunities took its revenge. The guests struck with the first good chance. After a cross from Andrej Kramaric, Kaderabek headed the score 0-1. The recently highly praised Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner didn’t look good when he conceded the goal and flew into nowhere when he tried to intercept the cross. Particularly bitter for Henriksen’s team: When Hoffenheim took the lead, FSV only played with ten men because Gruda was treated.
Mainz were unimpressed by the deficit and stayed on the trigger against a passive TSG. The goal scoring statistics spoke clearly at halftime: 14:3 for FSV. But what was missing were the hits. Either the reliable TSG keeper Oliver Baumann was there or the balls flew past the goal.
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After the break nothing changed in Mainz’s playing strength. The only difference: The 05ers suddenly converted their superiority into goals. First Burkardt headed in after Anthony Caci’s cross to make it 1-1. A short time later, Mwene completed the double strike and was fortunate enough to have his shot deflected unstoppable by Ozan Kabak.
While Hoffenheim, who were fighting for European Cup qualification, remained pale for over 90 minutes, Gruda completed a counterattack to make it 3-1. Afterwards, TSG became a little more active, but coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team didn’t score a goal. Instead, Mainz even managed to make it 4-1 in the final phase thanks to substitute Onisiwo.
