No points for VfL in Mainz. A goal by Jeremiah St. Juste was enough for the home team to decide the first of the two straight duels in their favour. Sebastian Polter had the biggest chance to score for Bochum, but unfortunately Mainz keeper Robin Zentner got his grips on the striker’s penalty kick. The next encounter will already take place in three days, then it will be a cup game at the Castroper Street.
Matchday 19 and VfL Bochum 1848 are on the road for their first away game in 2022. On Saturday afternoon, they are guests at the MEWA ARENA facing 1. FSV Mainz 05 who had one point more on their account before the match – something Thomas Reis’ team wanted to change. VfL’s manager made three changes to his starting XI compared to the 1-0 home win against Wolfsburg last Sunday. Konstantinos Stafylidis, Eduard Löwen and Christopher Antwi-Adjei replaced Danilo Soares, Elvis Rexhbecaj and Gerrit Holtmann.
This is how the game went:
1´ The hosts are pushing forward straight after the kick-off, but Stafylidis clears the ball for a corner.
2´ The following corner is defended well.
6´ Mainz remain the more active team, without appearing dangerously in front of Riemann’s goal.
10´ Ten minutes played at the MEWA ARENA. We are defending very deep in our own half – typical for our away game appearances. We stand firm at the back but offensive-wise there Is still room for improvement.
11´ That was a well-played attack for a change. Löwen works himself through midfield and can only be stopped by a foul in the end – free kick for VfL.
12´ Löwen tries to find Losilla at the far post but our skipper misses the ball by a whisker.
14´ Strong attack by the home team over the right flank, through which they initiate most of their attacks. In the end, the cross by St. Juste can easily be picked up by Riemann.
18´ So far, VfL have had their best chances via set-pieces. Once again, Löwen brings in a sharp free kick but unluckily, Leitsch is offside.
19´ After a nice play, Pantovic crosses the ball from the right – Mainz clear the ball at the expense of a corner.
20´ Bella-Kotchap reaches the ball with his head after a corner, but the header causes no problem for the keeper.
26´ The first proper goalscoring opportunity of the match. Barreiro tries his luck from the edga of the box, but Riemann is on the spot to defuse the ball.
31´ Penalty for VfL! After a decent passing sequence, Polter gets on the ball and plays it through to Pantovic artistically with his heel. Playing the pass, he is hit on his foot – foul play!
32´ No goal. Polter aims for the right corner, but his shot is too weak and is saved by keeper Zentner.
34´ VfL keep pushing and are rewarded a free kick. Löwen’s ball from midfield finds no taker in the box.
36´ Mainz also continue to play forward and have already reached their fifth corner. However, the Blue and Whites defend sovereignly time and again.
39´ A Bochum attack finally finds Antwi-Adjei, who aims for the far corner with his strong right foot. However, there are too many players of the home side in the path of the shot.
41´ Special praise for Stafylidis. As usual, the Greek is up for any challenge and once again stops a Mainz attack.
44´ Good chance for Bochum to gain the lead. Antwi-Adjei uses his speed and pushes into the box. Polter is lurking at the far post, ready to score, but the Mainz keeper gets his gloves on the ball.
Half-time: 0-0 at the break – that’s okay. Mainz pushed hard right from the start but lacked a clear chance to score. VfL got better into the game after the first 20 minutes and had the big chance to score the opener from the spot. Polter missed, so everything remains open here.
46´ No changes on both sides as the second half begins.
47´ As in the first half, Mainz are pushing forward hard, and Burkardt has his first good chance to score but his strong header is parried splendidly by Riemann.
48´ GOAL für 1. FSV Mainz 05. St. Juste converts a cross by Burkardt. 1-0 lead for the home team.
51´ Polter is pressing high, and Bell has to clear the ball for a corner – otherwise the striker would have been unmarked in front of goal.
55´ Stafylidis makes a very important block. Burkardt’s finish is saved by Riemann, while our left-back prevents a possible follow-up shot.
55´ Antwi-Adjei is fouled by Stach as he tries to counter. The Mainz player sees the first yellow card of the game
61´ VfL head coach Thomas Reis makes is first change to his line-up and bring in two new players. Blum and Rexhbecaj replace Pantovis and Asano.
62´ Goal scorer St. Juste looks confident and tries his luck after a throw-in. But Riemann sees early that the shot misses the box.
65´ Stafylidis is pulled in the Mainz half, but referee Frank Willenborg’s whistle remains silent. The home side counterattacks, and Lee just misses the 2-0.
67´ First good move by Blum after coming on as substitute. Polter extends a Riemann pass, but Blum can’t get the ball on goal.
70´ Bella-Kotchap is shown the yellow card.
72´ Antwi-Adjei finishes from a good position but unfortunately misses.
74´ Mainz are trying to decide the match early, but Barreiro can’t convert his chance for the 2-0.
76´ Gamboa is shown the yellow card after his foul against Onisiwo.
79´ The next substitution for Bochum. Bockhorn replaces Antwi-Adjei and Locadia replaces Löwen to make his Bundesliga debut for VfL!
81´ Shot by Blum but he doesn’t hit ball properly.
84´ Free kick Blum – cleared by Mainz.
85´ Hectic minutes with bookings for Mainz players Stöger and Nebel.
90´ Four minutes of extra time. Time for a successful attack!
90´+2 Corner for Bochum. Riemann is also in the box but Mainz are able to clear the situation.
90´+4 And indeed, another great chance! Locadia holds on it, Zentner saves for Mainz!
Full-time: St. Juste’s goal shortly after the break gives Mainz three points. We try everything and have another chance through Locadia in injury time. But in the end, we must head home empty-handed.
In just three days, we’ll face 1.FSV Mainz 05 again in the DFB Cup Round of 16 (January 18, 8:45 p.m.).