Thanks to a lightning start and top striker Karim Onisiwo, 1. FSV Mainz 05 celebrated their second home win in the Bundesliga and pushed VfL Bochum even further into the relegation battle. The Rheinhessen won 5:2 (3:0) and thus gained air to the bottom region of the table.
Jae-Sung Lee scored after 50 seconds in front of 23,100 spectators. Silvan Widmer (18th minute) and the outstanding triple goal scorer Onisiwo (28th/57th/87th) scored the other goals for the home side, who now have 23 points on their account. It was Mainz’s first win since October. Ex-Mainzer Pierre Kunde Malong (70′) and Erhan Masovic (72′) scored for the guests.
At Mainz Dominik Kohr returned after a yellow card suspension in front of the defensive line, which Stefan Bell reinforced in central defense alongside Edimilson Fernandes. New signing Ludovic Ajorque replaced Marcus Ingvartsen up front. Mainz acted flexibly, especially in attack. Lee, Ajorque and Onisiwo kept changing positions, sometimes falling back into midfield. Bochum had problems with that, the allocation did not fit.
Just like in the first minute, when Lee was twice free in the penalty area and used the second cross for the fastest goal of the afternoon. For the second goal, Onisiwo duped Ivan Ordets, who had returned to the starting XI, with a clever body deception. The Austrian stumbled the ball, but Captain Widmer was there and raised. Onisiwo then rewarded himself before half-time. Just two minutes later, he was denied by the brilliantly reacting Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann (30′).
Bochum didn’t play offensively at all and was more concerned with bringing order to their game. Customer Malong, Kevin Stöger and Gerrit Holtmann were also unable to set any accents at their old place of work. Simon Zoller had an opportunity in the 14th minute, but his header went well over the Mainz goal, which Finn Dahmen was in again. After the stormy first 30 minutes, Mainz took things a little easier without losing control of the game.
Bochum’s coach Thomas Letsch made four changes at half-time. Bochum now looked a little more determined and aggressive, but dangerous actions were again reserved for Mainz only. Onisiwo used fine preparatory work by Leandro Barreiro to make it 4-0.
The connection by customer Malong after an energy performance once again freed up strength in Bochum, who were able to reduce the deficit to 2:4 just two minutes later and drew new courage. Keven Schlotterbeck’s header (78′) went just inches past the post. In the end, Mainz saved the result over time, Onisiwo put the end with a counterattack.
