Work victory against Bochum: Burkardt cements Mainz’s top position

National striker Jonny Burkardt scored two impressive goals for 1. FSV Mainz 05 to win against VfL Bochum. The game on Saturday (January 11th, 2025) ended 2-0 (1-0). With the victory, the 05ers under coach Bo Henriksen secured themselves in the upper table region of the Bundesliga and are currently fourth.

With his second top-class chance, returnee Burkardt shot Mainz into the lead in the middle of the first half of the game after he had finished far too weakly from a free stand a minute earlier. This time the international took advantage of a nice pass from Caci when he received the ball with his chest and shot past Bochum keeper Patrick Drewes (23rd minute).

At the same time as in the first half, Burkardt increased in the second half: from the right, the Rheinhessen shifted their structure to the left. Phillipp Mewen brought the ball into the storm center against three Bochum players, where the striker artistically placed the ball high into the corner on the left with his foot as it fell (68th).

“Jonny is as usual, the last few days have been completely normal”said Henriksen after the game, “He wants to work, he wants to train, he wants to have new goals. That was a completely normal day for Jonny, scoring two goals.” His Bochum colleague Dieter Hecking paid tribute to the hosts: “We didn’t even get into the third zone because Mainz knew how to keep us away very well. That’s not our fault, but the opponent did something really well there.”

Hardly any gameplay flow because of so many Interruptions

Without the suspended Nadiem Amiri, FSV got into the game better, but were unable to create any good scoring chances. But the flow of the game did not develop in the early stages: numerous interruptions due to injuries required the medical staff of both clubs to be deployed. Bochum’s Ivan Ordets, Dominik Kohr and Moritz Jenz were able to continue the game, but Tim Oermann and Paul Nebel were less lucky, both of whom had to go out injured. The result was eight minutes of added time in the first half. The extremely experienced Hecking said after the game: “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced so many hits to the head on both sides.”

After Burkardt’s goal, the spectators in Mainz’s stadium on Bruchweg only saw two “half” chances to score until the break: first Felix Passlack slipped a ball almost into his own goal, then the strong Anthony Caci only hit the side netting of the Bochum goal.

Second half: Mainz vehemently demand penalties

In the second half of the game, almost nothing happened in front of the two teams’ goals. After just under an hour, an alleged handball by Ordets and a possible illegal foul on Burkardt caused a stir. The referee team, including VAR Sven Jablonski, assessed both situations as not worthy of punishment.

Shortly after Mainz’s second goal, Dieter Hecking’s visiting team created their first opportunity to score: Myron Boadu, who had just come on as a substitute, appeared in front of Robin Zentner in the Mainz box, but the home side’s defense teamed up to thwart the goal.

On the other hand, Mwene missed Mainz’s third goal with a slightly unsuccessful volley shot as the ball flew just past the right post. The FSV managed the lead until the final whistle, but VfL no longer had enough strength for a final offensive.

Mainz in Leverkusen, Bochum against St. Pauli

Mainz travel to Leverkusen on Tuesday evening (January 14th, 8:30 p.m.). Bochum welcomes FC St. Pauli one day later (January 15th, 8:30 p.m.).