Elversberg ran riot against Mainz even before half-time. A former FC Bayern gem shone once again.
Thanks to ruthless efficiency, SV Elversberg put an end to FSV Mainz 05’s away run in this south-west clash between two teams that have been underperforming in the cup. The newly promoted side won 4–1 (3–0) against Mainz, who had previously been level on points with them, at the start of the 8th Bundesliga matchday and climbed to fifth place for the time being. The struggling FSV had previously been the only team in the top flight to have won all their away matches – across two seasons, they had even recorded five consecutive away wins. For the first time since mid-April, Mainz dropped points on an away trip.
Felix Keidel (7’), Francis Onyeka (26’), former Munich player Maurice Krattenmacher (45’+1) and Cole Campbell (90’+1) scored for Elversberg, who had been knocked out of the DFB Cup in the second round on Tuesday by second-division side Darmstadt 98 (0–2). Following a 2–3 league defeat to Werder Bremen and a cup exit at second-division side VfL Bochum (0–2), Mainz suffered their third consecutive competitive defeat – and Bayern Munich are their opponents on the next matchday. Benedict Hollerbach (90+2) managed to salvage some pride before Stefan Posch (90+5) picked up a second yellow card.
Elversberg run riot against Mainz before half-time
“We’re a newly promoted side with the smallest budget in the league and the worst infrastructure,” said SVE manager Vincent Wagner to Sky shortly before kick-off: “The lads have done brilliantly so far and we’re making the most of it.” Wagner’s counterpart, Urs Fischer, demanded “more stability” from his team than they had shown recently: “You have to take on the challenges and show commitment.”
The 9,307 spectators in the sold-out stadium at the Kaiserlinde saw Elversberg take the initiative in the opening stages. Mainz, with first-choice goalkeeper Robin Zentner back between the posts after recovering from a hand injury, focused primarily on defence. The visitors’ tactics didn’t pay off; their defence looked shaky, leading to a series of fouls. Midfielder Keidel, who had recently been called up by national team manager Jürgen Klopp, scored early on with a superb free-kick.
With the lead behind them, the hosts continued to dictate the play. Mainz only really got into the game after 20 minutes, but Nadiem Amiri and his team-mates were unable to create any chances. During what was the visitors’ best spell of the match so far, Elversberg struck again. Paul Nebel did not look good when Onyeka scored.
After that, the lacklustre Mainz side produced nothing more before half-time – quite the opposite, in fact: Krattenmacher doubled the lead in stoppage time. He left two opponents in his wake and then finished superbly. Once again, Nebel – this time in combination with Zentner and Amiri – did not cut a fine figure.
At the start of the second half, the pattern of play remained unchanged. The visitors were unable to raise their game, and after around an hour, Fischer brought on four substitutes. Among others, Amiri and Nebel were taken off. In the 72nd minute, SVE striker David Mokwa squandered a great chance to score the fourth goal, which was then netted by Campbell with a bicycle kick.