Burkardt brace ensures 05ers’ winning streak continues

1. FSV Mainz 05 march on as head coach Bo Henriksen’s side secured a deserved 2-0 win over TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday afternoon. Captain and top scorer Jonathan Burkardt led the way with his eighth and ninth goals of the season in an impressive first-half showing. Although no further goals were to follow in the second period, the 05ers continued to control the game and had numerous chances to grab a third. With 12 matches played, Mainz now sit seventh in the Bundesliga on 19 points.

A fast start and dominant display

The first moment of joy arrived even before kick-off. During the warm-up, stadium announcer Andi Bockius announced the extension of home-grown goalkeeper Robin Zentner’s contract until 2028.

Henriksen put faith in the starting line-up that led to victories over Borussia Dortmund and Holstein Kiel once again, naming the same XI for the third match in succession. After a silky smooth one-two between Dominik Kohr and Burkardt, the 05ers could have registered the perfect start with no more than two minutes on the clock. Oliver Baumann was on hand in the TSG goal to deny the centre-back, however. One minute later, though, the Hoffenheim stopper could do nothing to prevent the early lead. Following a pinpoint pass from Kohr, Jae-sung Lee latched onto the ball on the left-hand side of the penalty area before finding Mainz captain Burkardt in the centre. He was able to shoot unchallenged to make it 1-0 (4’). The 05ers did not let up and the visitors had their goalkeeper to thank on yet another occasion when Kaishu Sano headed on target from a corner before Phillipp Mwene then saw his follow-up shot blocked (7’). The 30,400 spectators in the MEWA ARENA would certainly have been warmed at the sight of their team’s strong opening period, despite the freezing temperatures. The 05ers were controlling proceedings, repeatedly threatening and generally looking impressive going forward. It was only after 17 minutes that FSV allowed their visitors to enter their own penalty area for the first time and Jakob Bruun-Larsen missed an excellent close-range opportunity, although the home side’s intense pressing work was bearing fruit on the whole. (18’).

Just as TSG started to put in more tackles and seemed to be getting more of a foothold in the game, Mainz struck again and it was another from their top scorer and what a goal it was! Burkardt laid off a throw-in to Anthony Caci then got the ball back around 25 yards out before letting fly. Baumann was once again powerless in preventing the striker’s effort, which zipped into the top right-hand corner (24’). The game calmed down a little as it went on, but the 05ers retained control of the ball and of their opponents while continuing to create chances. Phillipp Mwene failed to beat Baumann after 38 minutes with a shot that was just too central from eleven yards out. The shot on the rebound also found the keeper’s arms. The hosts were 9-1 to the good at the break in terms of shots on goal, but most important was the deserved 2-0 score line.

The 05ers control both the ball and the opposition

After a strong performance to this point, Henriksen’s team emerged unchanged for the second half before picking up where they left off. Nadiem Amiri, who was pulling the strings in central midfield as usual, suddenly appeared in the Hoffenheim penalty area after a Burkardt dribble. However, Baumann was once again equal to prevent the former TSG player’s attempt from an acute angle (48’). Mainz kept their foot on the gas, pushing for another goal while their intense press nipped any of the visitors’ attempts to mount a comeback in the bud.

The second period contained less action than the first, with the home side sitting deeper than before, allowing Hoffenheim a little more possession. Although, this did not result in any clear-cut goalscoring opportunities developing. Zentner comfortably got a hand to Adam Hlozek’s shot (66’) before Tom Bischof’s attempt sailed over (72’). Silvan Widmer took Caci’s place on the right flank for the final 20 minutes and FSV picked up the pace again. Amiri broke through on the left-hand side of the box and fired off a shot but Baumann saved this attempt as well, an outstretched toe doing the business (74’). The hosts carried on their attacking domination for the closing stages, with Kohr and Mwene missing the possibility for the third goal following an Amiri corner (83’). Zentner then had to come up trumps to ensure that, as in Kiel, the match ended with a clean sheet – the 05ers’ goalkeeper spectacularly tipped a header from Stanley Nsoki round the post (86’). Burkardt received his well-deserved standing ovation after bagging a brace when he was substituted in stoppage time. Armindo Sieb and Niki Veratschnig (for Mwene) were then handed some minutes, with the former also spurring a great chance. Nevertheless, the deserved second home win in succession was wrapped up.