05ers overcome Bochum thanks to new record goalscorer Burkardt

1. FSV Mainz 05 made a successful start to the new year of Bundesliga football after a determined team performance but also the goals of new record scorer Jonny Burkardt. The captain celebrated his return to action following injury in style, netting twice as he led the side to a hard-fought but well-deserved 2-0 victory over bottom club VfL Bochum. A third consecutive Bundesliga victory moves the 05ers onto 28 points after 16 matchdays, while also propelling them up to fourth in the standings.

Burkardt returns to the starting line-up

Head coach Bo Henriksen made two changes from the last game of 2024 in Frankfurt. Burkardt came straight back into the starting XI for Armindo Sieb following injury, taking the captain’s armband once again. Moritz Jenz started in the back three as he did for the friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt, while Dominik Kohr moved into central midfield to cover for Nadiem Amiri while he serves his suspension.

The top scorer bags his record-breaking goal

Henriksen was not one to take the game lightly considering the visitors’ lowly position in the table coming into the contest. “We will need to be very clever, since Bochum are a good side with a great coach. They have steadily been improving tactically of late.” Therefore, it was no surprise that the 05ers took some time to find their feet before registering their first opportunity. Jenz flicked on a throw-in from Anthony Caci with his head, but Patrick Drewes in the VfL goal cleared the looping ball out for a corner kick (7’). Several stoppages followed for treatment to be administered as multiple players went down injured. The visitors’ defensive style of play, focusing on long balls and switching play, meant that there was virtually no flow to the game during the opening quarter of an hour. Mainz’s attacking play also lacked the conviction which has been seen on a regular basis this season so far. That was until the 23rd minute, when three 05ers, Jae-sung Lee, Burkardt and Anthony Caci, found themselves with a clear run on goal. However, Burkardt’s strike was too central and too weak and a golden opportunity went begging. Less than a minute later, though, Mainz’s top scorer made amends. Caci played an outstanding ball from inside his own half, finding Burkardt, who in turn kept his nerve when one-on-one with Drewes to make it 1-0 (23’). The goal was not only significant for being the 24-year-old’s 11th of the season but also his 34th Bundesliga goal for FSV, seeing Burkardt replace Karim Onisiwo as the 05er’s record goalscorer in the top flight.

The hosts gained noticeable momentum in possession after taking the lead. Bochum nearly the put the ball in their own net before a header from Lee also went close. Both had stemmed from crosses by Nebel (27’). Mainz were now finding gaps in the half-spaces and out wide with more regularity. Much of the 05ers play was now heading in the right direction. However, Henriksen’s team did suffer one setback in the first half when Nebel had to go off injured after 37 minutes to be replaced by Hyung-seok Hong. A shot from Caci went narrowly wide of the VfL goal as the last notable action before the break, even despite eight minutes of added time. The French full-back missed the chance to double the advantage from around ten yards out following a Phillipp Mwene cross (45+5’). The score line remained 1-0 as the hosts went into the locker room with a deserved but narrow lead.

The second goal helps take control

Mainz started the second half unchanged in terms of personnel as they looked to gain more of a hold on proceedings. The visitors on the other hand began pressing slightly higher than they did in the first 45 minutes. Apart from a shot from Jakov Medic that was blocked by Dominik Kohr, little happened during a cagey period following the restart, characterised by repeated stoppages. On 56 minutes, the 05ers claimed for a penalty, but referee Benjamin Brand deemed the collision between Mateus Bero and Burkardt nothing more than a coming-together. The second period had taken on a similar look to the first – while the 05ers controlled possession, patiently searching for a gap in the opposing defence, Hecking’s side remained concentrated on defending, relying on opportunities at turnovers.

Neither team was able to muster any attacking threat before around the hour mark with the 05ers usually lacking the requisite accuracy in their final pass. VfL’s attempts were left wanting as the FSV defence stood strong under the leadership of Stefan Bell. It needed a beautifully worked move to break the second-half deadlock on 68 minutes and provide some security to the score line. The ball passed through Danny da Costa, Caci and Lee, before reaching Mwene on the left. He took the ball to the by-line and cut back to find Burkardt in the centre, who prodded home from close range. Robin Zentner then maintained the lead, pulling off his first save of note in the match to deny Myron Boadu. Burkardt then received a deserved standing ovation from the MEWA ARENA, as Armindo Sieb came on for a final 20 minutes that remained under the hosts’ control. They looked assured both on and off the ball as they pressed for the third goal. Mwene narrowly missed the chance to make it 3-0 following great link-up play down the right-hand side. Nelson Weiper, Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Silvan Widmer were all handed a few minutes in stoppage time before the final whistle signalled a job well done for the third win in succession.