Bodrum FK
Ç. Rizespor
Esenler Erokspor
Keçiörengücü
Not. Forest
Crystal Palace
Valencia
Las Palmas
Hellas Verona
Monza
Mainz romped to a superb 5-2 win over VfL Bochum at the MEWA ARENA on Saturday afternoon for their first win of 2023. FSV got off to a blistering start when Jae-Sung Lee opened the scoring with just 44 seconds on the clock and captain Silvan Widmer doubled their lead just over a quarter of an hour later (17’). Onisiwo then put Mainz three goals to the good just before the half-hour mark and Svensson’s side went in at half time in a commanding position. The Austrian number nine made it four shortly after the break (57’), before former Zerofiver Pierre Kunde pulled one back for Bochum (70’). Erhan Masovic then made it 4-2 and it looked as though the match would reach a nail-biting conclusion. Onisiwo, however, put the result beyond doubt with just three minutes remaining to send the home crowd wild.
Bo Svensson made three changes from the side that faced Borussia Dortmund in the week. Stefan Bell, Dominik Kohr and Ludovic Ajorque came in for Aarón, Aymen Barkok and Marcus Ingvartsen.
Another blistering start
Just like against BVB, Mainz made a quick start to the game. Onisiwo’s cross from the right-hand-side found it’s way through to Anthony Caci on the left, who put the ball back into the six-yard-box to find Lee. The South Korean had no problem tapping the ball past Riemann to put his side 1-0 up (1’).
Onisiwo assists then scores
The early opener put the wind into Mainz’s sails and they doubled their lead just a quarter of an hour later. Onisiwo made a bursting run down the left-hand-side and after finding his way into the penalty area, the Austrian put it on a plate for Silvan Widmer, who slotted it home from around 7 yards out. (17’). Bochum enjoyed a bit more possession after Mainz’s second but they failed to break down FSV’s resilient defence.
Svensson’s side got their third just before the half-hour mark when Karim Onisiwo took advantage of a loose pass from Danilo Soares. Mainz’s number nine kept his cool to dink it over Riemann from a tight angle to put his side 3-0 up (28’). Onisiwo had a chance to make it four almost immediately but he was denied by the Bochum keeper (30’). Kunde had VfL’s first real opportunity of the contest just before half time but he fired his effort over the bar (40’). Mainz were deservedly in a commanding position at the break after a dominant first half display.
Onisiwo scores again
The opening stages of the second half weren’t as eventful as in the first, but Mainz certainly had the better opportunities. Onisiwo failed to beat Manuel Riemann (49’), before Hanche-Olsen just missed the target with a header from a corner (52’). Just five minutes later, however, Mainz’s Austrian striker got his second of the game. After winning the ball in midfield, Mainz found themselves in a promising position in front of Bochum’s backline. Barreiro slid Onisiwo through with a superb pass and the 30-year-old calmly slotted it past the keeper (57’).
Bochum find a way back
Despite the four goal deficit, VfL somehow found a way back into the contest with two goals in quick succession. Pierre Kunde beat Dahmen with a powerful shot inside the penalty area (70’) before Masovic somehow forced the ball over the goal line after a dangerous corner (72’). The two goals breathed new life into VfL and they then came close through Konstantinos Stafylidis and Keven Schlotterbeck (76’). Mainz found it difficult to get out of their own half and it looked as though the crowd were in for an unlikely grandstand finish. VfL, however, couldn’t quite create the clear-cut chances that they needed and they just couldn’t keep Karim Onisiwo at bay. With just three minutes remaining, the Austrian found himself through on goal after a ball over the top from Barkok and the number 9 smashed it past Riemann on the half volley. 5-2 was the end result and it was no more than the Zerofivers deserved.
The busy schedule continues
Next up for Mainz is a clash with FC Bayern at the MEWA ARENA in the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal (Wednesday, 1st February 20:45 CET) . They will then travel to the capital on the Saturday to face high-flyers Union Berlin in the Bundesliga (4th February, 15:30 CET).
