The Bundesliga club is celebrating a perfect start to the season Conference League. With the majority, the Mainz team doesn’t have to push the limits.
1. FSV Mainz 05 defeated Zrinjski Mostar from Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 (1-0) on the second matchday of the Conference League. Nelson Weiper scored the goal of the day for the 05er midway through the first half (24th minute).
The Rheinhessen succeeded in doing so 1:0 bei Omonia Nicosia the second win in the second game in the league phase of the Conference League.
“They defended with heart. That’s why it was difficult to create 100% chances. But we just have to do better to score more goals,” said match winner Weiper in an interview with SWR after the final whistle.
Henriksen is making a lot of changes to the starting eleven
Coach Bo Henriksen swapped compared to 3:4 against Bayer Leverkusen almost the entire team and brought in nine new ones. Only Dominik Kohr and Kaishu Sano remained in the starting eleven. Robin Zentner, who was last suspended in the Bundesliga, was in goal.
The first chance of the game belonged to the hosts, but Sota Kawasaki’s right-footed shot from 20 meters whizzed just past the left post (4th). Two minutes later, Andreas Hanche-Olsen’s free kick just missed the Bosnians’ goal.
Weiper scores on the second attempt
Zrinjski Mostar, where once Superstar Luca Modric took his first steps in men’s footballinitially focused on defense and in the initial phase no offensive accents. After the lively start, Mainz also found it difficult to create dangerous situations.
When the game was just a little slow, Mainz struck. Hanche-Olsen won the ball rustically, Ben Bobzien got to the ball via Silvan Widmer. Nelson Weiper first put his cross pass on the post, but then he scored from close range to make it 1-0. The 05ers then retreated a little without Mostar gaining any real dominance.
From the 37th minute onwards the guests had to act outnumbered. Igor Savic tried to win the ball, but hit Bobzien in the back of the knee with his open sole – a correct decision. As a result, Mainz’s playful superiority became even more obvious, but no more goals were scored until the break.
Maloney misses his chance
Five minutes had been played in the second half when Mainz had a great chance to make it 2-0. Mostar’s keeper Goran Karacic flew under a corner, but the 05ers failed to get the ball into the visitors’ goal despite repeated attempts. Kerim Memija was ultimately able to clarify.
Practically nothing came from Mostar on the offensive. On the other hand, after a successful combination, Lennard Maloney was released in the center, but the midfielder did not hit the ball correctly from a promising position (58th).
Mainz had everything under control at all times, but had to remain vigilant on defense given their narrow lead. In the 79th minute, referee Jamie Robert Robinson pointed to the penalty spot after a tackle on Daniel Gleiber, but took the penalty back after the VAR indicated and viewed the video images: Ilija Masic had played the ball.
Six minutes before the end, substitute Paul Nebel intercepted a ball and fed Armindo Sieb, who hesitated too long before finishing. Shortly afterwards, Maloney’s shot was blocked at the last moment. But they couldn’t score another goal, and Widmer’s shot in stoppage time also went past the far post.
Two duels with VfB Stuttgart are coming up
In the Bundesliga, the 05ers continue on Sunday with the game at VfB Stuttgart. The Swabians lost 1-0 to Fenerbahce Istanbul in the Europa League on Thursday. The success against Mostar should then provide a tailwind. “Of course, victories are always good. We hope that we can take the push into the Bundesliga with us,” said Weiper. The Rheinhessen are currently only in 16th place with four points.
Just three days later, both teams meet again in the DFB Cup. Then Mainz will have home advantage against VfB (October 29th, 6 p.m.). The next game in the Conference League is scheduled for November 6th, when the Rheinhessen host the Italian club AC Florenz (6:45 p.m.).
Broadcast on Friday, October 24th, 2025 at 6:00 a.m., SWR Aktuell in the morning, SWR Aktuell
