Haller brace paves the way for 6-1 victory in Mainz

Boris Rupert reporting from Mainz

Göz Atın

Only Brandt nets for BVB in 1-1 draw with FSV

“The unsatisfying end to an unsatisfactory first half of the season”

Two completely different halves

The 30,312 spectators at “Stadion am Europakreisel”, as the stadium in Mainz is now called, gave the hosts “our game of the century”. A message of thanks to the Borussia supporters, who filled at least half of the ground, was repeatedly emphasised. A total of seven goals were scored in a match that was not devoid of errors but was perhaps very entertaining as a result. Gans reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 34th minute after a two-goal salvo from Haller (22) and Brandt (24), but Haller immediately scored again to make it 3-1 and stop Mainz’s hopes of a cupset in their tracks. Sabitzer (57), Malen (79) and Moukoko (85) increased the lead to 6-1 in the second period.

The scenario:
Fourth tier against top flight. Schott Mainz had qualified for the DFB-Pokal as winners of the Landespokal Südwest for the second season in succession. There had never previously been a competitive meeting between the clubs.

Personnel matters: 
Adeyemi, Bynoe-Gittens, Duranville, Meunier, Morey, Nmecha and Reyna were missing from the squad for the opening game; Kobel (starting XI) and Schlotterbeck (substitutes) were back. There were only three changes to the starting XI that featured against Mainz 05 on the Bundesliga’s final day at the end of May: in addition to the two new signings Bensebaini and Sabitzer, ex-captain Reus started too. The BVB players boasted a whopping 238 cup appearances between them.

Tactics:
The Black & Yellows lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ryerson (right), Hummels, Süle and the very attack-minded Bensebaini formed the four-man rearguard, with Sabitzer and Can in the double-pivot role in front of them. Reus lined up in the No “10” position and was frequently supported by Brandt, who drifted into central attacking areas from the left flank. Meanwhile, Mainz lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, defended deep and switched courageously upon regaining possession.

The match & analysis:
The oldest Dortmund team since the 2008 cup final – today’s average age was 28.8 years – was clearly in the ascendancy (70% possession in the first half), but lacked purpose and ideas after Süle had squandered a first headed opportunity from a corner (3). Numerous passings errors also crept into their play, which the men from Mainz capitalised on to launch spirited counter-attacks. However, they were put to a stop before a real threat was ever posed in or around the box.

A possession turnover by Reus on the left flank brought about the opening goal after 22 minutes. Sabitzer played the ball into space on the right wing and although Ryerson’s cross was cleared, the move remained alive. Brandt crossed the ball into the middle from the left and Haller was afforded plenty of space to head home and make it 1-0. Brandt added the second goal barely 120 seconds later when he slotted home Malen’s delivery from the right flank with a simple tap-in from the edge of the six-yard box.

Süle was unable to continue around the half-hour mark and Schlotterbeck replaced him. Borussia then failed to defend a crossed free-kick from Müller, with Gans getting a shot away from close range and cutting the deficit to 2-1 (34). But Haller re-established the two-goal lead with his second goal almost immediately. The centre-forward controlled Bensebaini’s cross with his chest, touched it over Gans and fired home to make it 3-1 to BVB (35).

At the beginning of the second half, Hansen in the Mainz goal thwarted two close-range shots from Reus (50) and Malen (54), who had spectacularly gotten the better of four opposing defenders before shooting from inside the penalty area. It was already Dortmund’s 13th shot of the match. Numbers 14 and 15 all-but wrapped up the tie: Reus broke through in a centre-left position but was once again denied by Hansen, with Sabitzer capitalising on the loose ball and slotting home from 12 metres for 4-1 (57).

Borussia subsequently took their foot off the gas without ever letting their control of the game slip at all. Ryerson, who had moved over to the left side of defence after Wolf had been brought on (76), initiated the fifth goal. Sabitzer touched the ball across for Malen, who hammered it in off the underside of the bar from 16 metres (79). Moukoko rounded off the scoring (85).

Outlook:
The draw for the second round will only be conducted once the first-round ties involving the two Supercup participants Bayern and Leipzig have been played – probably on Sunday 1 October. The second round fixtures will be played on 31 October and 1 November. Borussia Dortmund will commence the 61st Bundesliga season at home to 1. FC Köln on Saturday (19 August).

Teams & goals

DFB-Pokal First Round
TSV SCHOTT MAINZ 1-6 (1-3) BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Schott Mainz: Hansen – Just (Obas, 46), Ahlbach, Gans, Schlosser (Portmann, 80) – Müller – Schwarz, Cucchiara (Kern, 46), Embaye (Hermann, 71), Wimmer – Thum (Roden, 63)
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Ryerson, Hummels, Süle (Schlotterbeck, 29), Bensebaini (Wolf, 76) – Sabitzer, Can – Malen Reus, Brandt – Haller (Moukoko, 76)
Substitutes: Schmidt, Schneider, Haas, Rosenbaum – Meyer, Özcan, Hazard, Pohlmann, Papadopoulos, Bamba
Goals: 0-1 Haller (Brandt, 22), 0-2 Brandt (Malen, 24), 1-2 Gans (34), 1-3 Haller (Bensebaini, 35), 1-4 Sabitzer (Reus, 57), 1-5 Malen (Sabitzer, 79), 1-6 Moukoko (Malen, 85)
Corners: 1-6 (1-4 at half-time), chance ratio: 1-9 (1-4)
Referee: Brand (Gerolzhofen), yellow cards: Ahlbach, Roden, Müller – Can
Attendance: 30,312, weather: slightly cloudy sky, muggy, 22 degrees