Mainz get their campaign up and running in Bochum

Mainz got their Bundesliga campaign up and running on Saturday afternoon with a well earned win over VfL Bochum. Karim Onisiwo headed FSV into the lead in the 26th minute, before former Zerofiver Kevin Stöger leveled for the hosts 13 minutes later. It would prove to be Onisiwo’s day, however, as he scored another header in the 77th minute to give his side all three points.

Bo Svensson made two changes from the side that faced Aue in the DFB-Pokal last weekend. Edimilson Fernandes came in for Silvan Widmer, who missed out due to illness and Angelo Fulgini came in for Jonny Burkardt, who has a muscular problem in his thigh. Robin Zentner wore the captain’s armband in Widmer’s absence.

Onisiwo scores, Stöger levels

The hosts made the better start to the contest but failed to make their early pressure count and didn’t really threaten Robin Zentner. The Zerofivers played their way into the game and enjoyed some possession in the opposition half. The first real opportunity of the game, however, came in the eleventh minute, when former Zerofiver Kevin Stöger tried to beat Robin Zentner from distance as the goalkeeper had come out of his penalty area to clear his lines. Luckily for Mainz, his half volley went over the bar (11’). It was then the turn of Maxim Leitsch to have a good chance against his former club, when the ball dropped at his feet in the penalty area from an Aaron cross (13’). He couldn’t quite get it out of his feet and Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann managed to gather the ball. Riemann then started a quick counter attack and found Simon Zoller in Mainz’s half. Zoller crossed for Gerrit Holtmann, whose powerful volley was hit straight at Zenter, who punched it away.

Things got tense in the 19th minute, when a Zoller cross appeared to hit Maxim Leitsch on the arm and the Bochum players appealed for a penalty. A lengthy VAR check followed, but the referee decided against the hand ball and gave a corner instead (19’). The penalty appeals seemed to spark the Zerofivers into action and they began to play with more courage and started to put the hosts under pressure. Svensson’s side were then rewarded seven minutes later. Edimilson Fernandes whipped in a pin-point cross from halfway and found Karim Onisiwo in the penalty area. Onisiwo peeled away from Masovic and beat Manuel Riemann with a guided header (26’). Mainz remained on top after the goal and continued to create some good opportunities. Stach couldn’t quite take advantage of some sloppy Bochum defending (28’) and Onisiwo fluffed his lines when he found himself in on goal 10 minutes later (38’). The hosts, however, got themselves back into the game just 60 seconds later, when Kevin Stöger’s mishit cross flew over Robin Zentner’s head and into the back of the net (39’).

Onisiwo gets his second of the afternoon

It was an edgy contest after the break and it took both sides a little bit of time to get going. Takuma Asano had the first chance of the half for the hosts in the 52nd minute (52’) and Riemann had to palm away an Onisiwo cross a minute later (53’). Bochum then had the better of the game and began to look the more likely team. Kevin Stöger had an opportunity from a free kick (58’) and Zoller tested Zentner with a volley (60’). Mainz were struggling to get out of their own half, but Aaron took the initiative and began to threaten. His dangerous cross had to be dealt with by Riemann (73’) and then his free kick from the edge of the area was put narrowly wide (75’).

But two minutes later, Mainz regained the lead. Karim Onisiwo got on the end of a Stach corner and got his second of the afternoon (77’). The goal knocked the stuffing out of the hosts and their only opportunity before the final whistle came in the form of a long-range Konstantinos Stafylidis effort. It was still a nervy ending, but the guests managed to hold on to take all three points. Antony Caci was also brought on in stoppage time for his debut.

Mainz will play their first home game of the season on Sunday 14th August, when they welcome Union Berlin to the MEWA ARENA (15:30 CEST).