Weiper with the winner as FSV beat Mostar

A successful first home game of this season’s UEFA Conference League for the 05ers, as they made it two wins from their opening two games of the league phase. FSV beat Bosnian side HSK Zrinjski Mostar 1-0 thanks to a goal from Nelson Weiper midway through the first half. The hosts controlled proceedings for much of the game, with the visitors looking to defend without providing much going forward, especially after they were reduced to ten men in the 37th minute. Despite this, Mainz lacked that killer instinct up front and couldn’t find the clinical finish on a number of occasions, but still managed to secure all three points. FSV’s six points puts them sixth in the Conference League table after two matchdays.

Nine changes from the weekend

Only midfield engine Kaishu Sano and defender Dominik Kohr kept their places in the 05ers starting XI from the narrow defeat to Leverkusen at the weekend, with Bo Henriksen choosing to name an almost completely new side. Robin Zentner made his return to the Mainz goal, behind a back line of Kacper Potulski, Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Kohr. The midfield consisted of Kaishu Sano and Lennard Maloney in the middle, with captain Silvan Widmer and Sota Kawasaki manning the flanks. The front three saw William Bøving and Ben Bobzien operating behind Nelson Weiper through the middle. There was no place in the squad for Danny da Costa, Benedict Hollerbach or Stefan Bell, as Henriksen looks to manage his players’ workload.

FSV with the goals and numbers advantage

Mainz started the game with a lot of energy and intent, supported once again by a noisy crowd. The 05ers took control of proceedings and created two good chances within the first six minutes. Kawasaki saw his strike from the edge of the box whistle past the post, before Hanche-Olsen also fizzed one just wide from a free kick. The Bosnian visitors were mainly focused on defending their goal as they soaked up the initial Mainz advances. FSV had the majority of the possession and managed to find lots of space in good areas. Other than the first two chances, the hosts found it difficult to create opportunities, as there always seemed to be a Zrinjski body in the way.

Things quietened down somewhat after the opening exchanges. The hosts became slightly sloppy, while their opponents began to find their feet in the game, but it was during this period in which Mainz took the lead. Widmer broke down the right hand side following a challenge by Hanche-Olsen and found Bobzien, who squared it to his strike partner Weiper to tap into an open net (24’). Taking the lead did wonders for the hosts, who played with more intensity and dynamism, as well as more players after the 37th minute. Igor Savic’s reckless challenge caught Bobzien on the back of the knee and he was promptly shown a red card by Northern Irish referee Jamie Robinson, who did not need a second look at the incident. FSV headed into the break with a narrow, but well-deserved lead. 

Domination without scoring

Defend well and create more chances – Bo Henriksen’s half time instructions were clear to see as the sides began the second half. It took just five minutes for the unchanged Mainz-XI to create their first chance of the second half – one that really should have seen them double their advantage. There was pinball in the box following a corner and the ball just didn’t seem to want to go in the Zrinjski net, before Kerim Memija’s goal-line clearance put an end to the melee. FSV kept control of the match and kept pushing for a second goal. Widmer had a strike from distance before Maloney scuffed an effort in the box after some nice work from Kohr (57’, 58’).

FSV made a triple change for the last 25 minutes of the match, bringing Daniel Gleiber, Paul Nebel and Armindo Sieb on for Weiper, Sano and Bøving. Despite this, the match stayed fairly uneventful, as the 05ers lacked that offensive spark, while the outnumbered Mostar sat back without providing anything going forward. Phillipp Mwene was given the last 15 minutes of the game, coming on in place of Kawasaki. Another whistle to cheer about for those in red and white, as referee Robinson pointed to the spot in the 78th minute after a challenge on Gleiber. The joy quickly faded after VAR got involved and suggested that the referee ought to take a second look at the incident, which he did before changing his decision. Despite their dominance, the 05ers’ lead did not look completely secure, especially when Zentner was called into action for the first time in the match from a Mostar free kick. Nebel and Maloney both missed chances to double the lead, creating a slightly nervous energy amongst the 30,200 spectators inside the MEWA ARENA as they waited for the full-time whistle to blow. The 05ers ramped up the pressure towards the end, however Kohr, Maloney again and Widmer all failed to find the back of Goran Karacic’s net, as Mainz held on to a 1-0 victory.

Sunday in Stuttgart

The 05ers go again on Sunday (26th October, 17:30 CET) with a Bundesliga clash away to VfB Stuttgart, before playing them again at the MEWA ARENA on Wednesday (29th October, 18:00 CET) in the DFB-Pokal. Any 05ers after more European action will have to wait until 6th, November (18:00 CET), for the home game against AC Fiorentina.