FIRST TEAM
10/02/2010

1899 unable to stop the Mainz party

Seven games, seven wins, 21 points. The perfect record. Mainz 05 have equalled the Bundesliga record for the best-ever start to a season after 1899 were the latest victims of the 'Bruchweg Boys' after a 4-2 defeat. Demba Ba and Gyfli Sigurdsson scored for 1899.

Sebastian Rudy was unable to make the trip to Mainz because of an injury, but otherwise 1899 had a full squad to choose from. That included captain Andreas Beck and Boris Vukcevic, who had both overcome minor injuries to be avaiable for the game. Tom Starke continued in goal after recovering fully from his thigh injury. Josip Simunic and Isaac Vorsah were joined at the back by Andreas Beck on the right and Christian Eichner on the left. Luis Gustavo, Sejad Salihovic and Tobias Weis starred in midfield, with Vedad Ibisevic, Demba Ba and Peniel Mlapa forming a triple threat strike force.

Problems at the start for 1899

Lewis Holtby's excellent through ball from midfield to Adam Szalai set up Sami Allagui, to put Mainz 1-0 ahead after just two minutes. Hoffenheim still hadn't settled at the Bruchweg, and an early goal was typical of the ruthlessness shown by FSV Mainz 05 this season. "The have a real efficiency about them, and need only one chance to score", said Rangnick after the game. This efficiency left Hoffenheim shellshocked in the first 15 minutes. At the back there was chaos, and up front there was precious little being offered. The first half-chance for 1899 came after 11 minutes from Isaac Vorsah, whose header from a corner sailed across goal to safety. Mainz continued to control the game, and after quick and decisive passing to their forward men they were still very dangerous. Hoffenheim were under heavy pressure for at least 20 minutes, but then they started to come back into the game. A shot from distance from Sejad Salihovic was parried away by Mainz keeper Christian Wetklo for a corner after 16 minutes. Vedad Ibisevic and Demba Ba kept the pressure on with further chances, but were not able to take advantage of them.

After a half an hour, Hoffenheim had succeeded in making the game more open. The spectators were witnessing an entertaining, but feisty encounter (five yellow cards in the first half), in which both teams had spells of possession with some direct football. Both goalkeepers hadn't had much to do however, until Christian Fuchs hammered a free kick towards the Hoffenheim goal on 35 minutes, which was batted onto the inside of the post and to safety by keeper Starke. Just before the break though, Luis Gustavo capped off a strong first-half performance by charging through from midfield and setting up Demba Ba in the penalty box, giving the away side a deserved equaliser on 41 minutes.

Fantastic game, lots of goals

On 47 minutes, there was a carbon copy of Mainz's first goal; Holtby with a through ball to Szalai, putting the home side 2-1 up. Once more 1899 found themselves behind, but this time it was only three minutes until a chance for an equaliser; Andreas Beck with fierce shot across goal which was only parried away by Wetklo, but nobody was able to follow up. The visitors kept up the tempo of the game though; on 58 minutes Ba would have been clear in front of goal had he not been standing in an offside position. Only a minute later though, Mainz made another dent in Hoffenheim's hopes of taking any points. An attack from the right-hand side provided Holtby with the chance to make it 3-1, and the striker needed no second invitation. But whoever thought that 1899 had given up was certainly mistaken. Only five minutes later, substitute Sigurdsson smashed home a wonderful free kick with only his second touch of the ball to make it 3-2.

Mainz's dream run continues

Hoffenheim remained the side in the ascendancy, with two long-range efforts from Boris Vukcevic almost bringing the equaliser. But 1899 couldn't score, and Mainz's efficiency again took hold. Josip Simunic brought down Holtby in the box, and referee Deniz Aytekin had no choice but to point to the spot and show Simunic the red card in 72 minutes. Andre Schürrle let himself take the responsibility and duly converted to make it 4-2- it was finally game over for 1899.

Mainz could have even grabbed a further goal against the now crestfallen Hoffenheim side, but could count themselves lucky that the referee hadn't given a penalty against them after Weis and Tagoe went down in the box. It finished 4-2 though, and the Mainz party continues.

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