Mainz run riot in big win over Hamburg
Mainz took Hamburg apart on Matchday 2, putting in a clinical away performance to smash five goals past the Red Shorts with Phillip Tietz and Sheraldo Becker starring.
Hamburg 0-5 Mainz
Goals: 0-1 Becker 19‘ (assist: Sano), 0-2 Mwene 41‘ (assist: Becker), 0-3 Tietz 49‘ (assist: Becker), 0-4 Tietz 83‘ (assist: Lee), 0-5 Königsdörffer 90+1‘ (assist: Mwene)
Hamburg and Mainz both arrived at the Volksparkstadion without a goal to their name this season. Coach Merlin Polzin made four changes to his starting eleven after the opening-day loss in Dortmund, handing debuts to David Møller Wolfe, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Bilal Nadir and Terem Moffi.
Urs Fischer's Mainz made two changes in defence, with Stefan Posch and Kacper Potulski replacing Dominik Kohr and Danny da Costa.
Becker and Mwene punish sluggish hosts
Mainz were the sharper side from the outset, with Sheraldo Becker forcing saves from Daniel Heuer Fernandes inside the opening 10 minutes. The breakthrough came on 19 minutes when Kaishu Sano slid Becker through and the forward finished coolly.
Two minutes before the break, Becker turned provider, whipping a low cross for Phillipp Mwene to slide in unmarked and make it 2-0 at the interval, a scoreline that reflected the total Mainz control.
Tietz and Königsdörffer complete the rout
Mainz struck again almost immediately after the restart as Becker set up Phillip Tietz to make it three in the 48th minute. Hamburg could not find a way through the Mainz defence despite introducing the likes of Fábio Vieira and Patson Daka, and Mainz punished them further when Tietz added a second on 83 minutes, latching onto a loose ball from Jaesung Lee.
In stoppage time, former Hamburg forward Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer turned Sebastiaan Bornauw inside the box and slotted home a fifth, sealing an emphatic away win.
Player of the Match: Phillip Tietz
Tietz scored twice, in the 48th and 83rd minutes, taking his tally to six goals in three competitive matches this season. He also assisted Mwene's goal before the break and set up further chances, giving Mainz's attack constant penetration throughout an afternoon in which Hamburg failed to register a shot on target until late in the second half.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Hamburg 0.42 - Mainz 2.89
Fastest player: Sheraldo Becker (Mainz), 36.58 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 4-0 by Phillip Tietz (Mainz), 10 percent
Most pressed player: Zakaria El Ouahdi (Hamburg), 12 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Kaishu Sano (Mainz), 2.88
Fantasy Heroes: Phillip Tietz (Mainz, 398 Points), Phillipp Mwene (Mainz, 393 Points), Sheraldo Becker (Mainz), 306 Points)
