Defending champion VfB Stuttgart can continue to dream of another triumph in the DFB Cup after a success against FSV Mainz 05. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s team won 2-0 (1-0) and once again had the upper hand against the Rheinhessen team. Almost exactly 72 hours before the duel in the second cup round, Stuttgart had won 2-1 in the Bundesliga.
VfB defender Luca Jaquez put the guests on course for the round of 16 with a header after a corner against weak Mainz (6th minute). After the break, Stuttgart’s Atakan Karazor secured the final score after a counterattack (73rd minute).
XXL rotation at VfB
Compared to the Bundesliga duel, Hoeneß had planned to change his entire starting eleven. “It simply offers us the chance again to play with power, with freshness, with energy,” the coach told the pay-TV channel Sky.
But nothing came of eleven new players because Tiago Tomás was out for a short time during the warm-up due to a thigh problem. Deniz Undav came into the starting line-up for him.
First yellow for Hanche-Olsen from Mainz, then goal for Stuttgart
The Mainz team, whose coach Bo Henriksen had to watch from the stands because of a red card in the opening round of the 1-0 win against Dynamo Dresden, started the game with a tough pace. After just a few seconds, Andreas Hanche-Olsen, who was one of three new players in the 05er’s starting lineup, was shown a yellow card after a rude foul on Bilal El Khannouss.
VfB responded in its own way and took an early lead after a corner from Jaquez in front of 29,400 spectators. With his header from close range, the Swiss was left completely alone by the Mainz team.
Mainz is having a hard time
The Stuttgart team then controlled the game – but without much offensive drive. But the FSV was also missing that. From the 25th minute onwards, Mainz found their way into the game better, but they didn’t have any clear chances.
In stoppage time in the first half, they were able to thank their keeper Robin Zentner that VfB didn’t increase the score before the break. The goalkeeper was there when Badredine Bouanani shot from a tight angle.
Counterattack brings the decision
In the second half, the Swabians almost got off to a similar dream start as in the first half. A powerful shot from Deniz Undav just missed the Mainz goal (47′).
After the substitutions of Benedict Hollerbach and Nelson Weiper in the 60th minute, Mainz were much more aggressive offensively, but their risk-taking style of play also opened up space for VfB. Karazor completed one of the counterattacks to make it 2-0.