A convincing victory in Alzenau

05ers miss chances but remain comfortable against Regionalliga side

Sota Kawasaki played his first 45 minutes in a Mainz shirt.

It’s two friendlies, two victories for FSV. Mainz recorded a 4-0 win over newly-promoted Regionalliga side Bayern Alzenau. Additionally, three new signings made their debuts for the club. Arnaud Nordin bagged a brace before half time, before Dominik Kohr and Maxim Leitsch found the net after the break. The fourth-tier club had a few chances to get on the scoresheet themselves, particularly in the first half.

“This was a good friendly without any injuries. That’s important. The performance was okay, if not 100 percent perfect. We got to see some new players on the pitch. So far, it’s been mostly about fitness for us, and not really about tactics. We need to do some running. Kawasaki is a tireless runner who is also good on the ball. We’ve seen that in his first few days here. I’m very happy with how our squad looks now,” said Bo Henriksen while speaking to the media after the game. He and his players had previously spent plenty of time signing autographs and taking photos with supporters.

FSV started on top and had the first chances of the game early on. Anthony Caci had one of the best, but his shot from around 15 yards out was saved brilliantly by Alzenau goalkeeper Luca Denk (2’). Five minutes later, the French full-back set Ben Bobzien through on goal, and he could only be stopped by a foul. Referee Jannis Jäschke pointed to the spot, and Nordin converted to put his side ahead (8’). While the Bundesliga side did dominate possession after the goal, the hosts showed that they also had something about them, particularly when attacking quickly. In the 13th minute, Jihad Boutakrit advanced forward on the left and provided a low cross for Lukas Fecher, who fired over. Six minutes after that, the lively Boutakrit knocked the ball past Zentner, who had somewhat prematurely come out of his goal. However, the Alzenau player could not find the empty net from the left of the box (19’). In what was an entertaining first half in front of nearly 1,500 spectators at the Mairec Arena, the 05ers were the more clinical side. Around the half-hour mark, Bobzien dribbled forward from the centre of midfield, beat an opponent and played the ball to Nordin at exactly the right moment. The Frenchman’s precise left-footed finish left Denk with no chance (33’). Mainz had more chances to add to their lead in the first half, including through both Nordin and Widmer. Firstly, Denk denied Nordin his third, before the FSV captain headed the follow-up over the bar (36’).

Lacking a bit of luck in front of goal

The 05ers made eleven changes at the break, which allowed the three new signings (Bos, Kawasaki and Schopp) to make their debuts in a Mainz shirt, after training for the first time at the start of the week. Once again, it was the visitors who had the first opportunity of the second period, this time from a corner. The Australian Kasey Bos delivered this onto the head of Leitsch, who climbed highest but could not quite find the net (49’). The difference in class between the two teams was clearer in the second half, and a third goal seemed inevitable. Alzenau struggled to get close to the Mainz penalty area. In the 56th minute, Hollerbach came forward on the right and brilliantly played the ball to Sieb, whose first-time shot from around six yards out was well wide. Not long after, it was Sieb who played in Hollerbach after the ball was won back in midfield. Hollerbach tried a chip, but it went wide of the post as he missed the chance for his first goal for the club (60’). There was a better outcome from a well-worked attacking move four minutes later, though. Following a corner, da Costa delivered the ball back into the centre. Sieb headed it across goal, and Kohr just had to tap home from close range (64’). Both Hollerbach and Sieb were still lacking a bit of luck in front of goal after the third. Hollerbach struck the bar after being played through by Japanese midfielder Sota Kawasaki (70’), while Sieb then hit the post from around ten yards out (73’). It was a defender who did add the fourth goal eight minutes from time, when Leitsch nodded home from three yards out after a corner from Nikolas Veratschnig (82’).

In the end, it was a deserved victory, and the 05ers should have scored even more with the chances they had in the second half. Mainz can look to improve their finishing on Wednesday (19:00 CEST), when they face 3. Liga side 1. FC Saarbrücken.