A brilliant long-range goal from Robin Quaison helped Mainz come from behind to record a 3-1 victory at home to Cologne in the Matchday 9 opener on Friday.

Mainz 3-1 Cologne
Goals: 0-1 Terodde (14'), 1-1 Boetius (21'), 2-1 Quaison (57'), 3-1 Öztunali (82')

A home win was certainly not on the cards early on as Cologne, buoyed by last week’s 3-0 triumph over Paderborn, began on the front foot and pinned their hosts back inside their own half. Florian Kainz had an early goal ruled out for offside, but it was a warning Mainz failed to heed, as Simon Terodde fired the visitors in front before a quarter of an hour was up, brilliantly turning with his back to goal before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner. Cologne's intensity dropped off after scoring, however, and Mainz did not need further invitation to get forward. Jean-Paul Boetius went close when he forced Timo Horn into a fine fingertip save, before he eventually netted a deserved equaliser, slotting under the goalkeeper after good work from Adam Szalai.

The second half remained an evenly balanced affair, even if Mainz looked the more dangerous of the two going forward. Daniel Brosinski had the first chance of note, but blazed over after a lung-busting run that covered almost the entire length of the pitch. It mattered little in the end, though, as Quaison soon fired the hosts ahead, sending a swerving long-range shot past Horn. Cologne could not be faulted for effort and although home goalkeeper Robin Zentner made a number of saves, he was never seriously troubled again until a stoppage-time Kainz free-kick that he clawed out from under the crossbar. By then, however, the points had already been sealed by Levin Öztunali, who beat Horn at his near post to give Mainz their third win of the season.

Match stats

• As was the case last week, Terodde opened the scoring for Cologne. He now has three Bundesliga goals this season.
• Boetius has six Bundesliga goals for Mainz, five of which have come in home games.
• Quaison now has four Bundesliga goals this term, and it was Mainz's first from outside the box in 2019/20.
• Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate is the first player to be booked five times this season.
• Öztunali's goal ended his run of 49 games without scoring. The last time he found the net was on 2 April 2017 against Ingolstadt.
• This was just Cologne's second defeat in their last seven Bundesliga meetings with Mainz (two wins, three draws).

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Line-ups

Mainz: Zentner – Brosinski (c) (Latza 73'), St. Juste, Niakhate, Martin – Baku, Kunde, Öztunali (Hack 84') – Boetius – Szalai, Quaison (Onisiwo 78')
Unused subs: Müller, Pierre-Gabriel, Maxim, Barreiro, Awoniyi, Burkardt
Out: Bell (ankle), Fernandes (suspended), Ji (knee), Mateta (knee)
Coach: Sandro Schwarz

Cologne: Horn – Ehizibue (Schmitz 58'), Bornauw, Czichos, Katterbach (Modeste 81') – Skhiri, Hector (c) – Schindler (Cordoba 65'), Schaub, Kainz – Terodde
Unused subs: Kessler, Höger, Risse, Mere, Drexler, Hauptmann
Out: Sobiech (thigh), Verstraete (knee), Clemens (match fitness), Bader (knock)
Coach: Achim Beierlorzer

Watch: Boetius: "We showed great character"

About the clubs

1. FSV Mainz 05

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1. FC Köln

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