Bundesliga
Mainz stay perfect in Conference League
Nelson Weiper's first-half finish proved the difference for Mainz in their first UEFA Conference League home game against Bosnian champions Zrinjski Mostar, with the 05ers claiming another confident win and keeping another clean sheet in their continental campaign.
Mainz 1-0 Zrinjski Mostar
Goals: 1-0 Weiper 24’
Red card: Savić 39’
A much-changed Mainz side flew out of the gates on their home return to proper continental football for the first time in nine years.
Converting his side’s dominance into numerical advantage was the 05ers' beloved son Nelson Weiper, who fired his side into the lead midway through the half from close range, following a strong team move involving Silvan Widmer and Ben Bobzien.
Things went from bad to worse for their Bosnian visitors, as defensive midfielder Igor Savić was sent off for a very late challenge on Bobzien, allowing Mainz to take a very confident lead in at the break.
The hosts picked up where they left off in the second half, nearly doubling their lead through a mad goalmouth scramble following a corner. Silvan Widmer’s prodded effort was cleared off the line to keep the scores at 1-0.
The 05ers continued to look dominant throughout the half, though found clear-cut chances hard to come by. They thought they had a penalty late on after Bobzien was seemingly brought down in the box, but following a lengthy VAR check, that too was scrubbed off.
Despite not managing to break down a compact Zrinjski again in the second half, Bo Henriksen's side maintained their perfect start with successive wins in this season's Conference League.
Mainz are back in action on 6 November when they welcome Italian side Fiorentina to the MEWA Arena.
>>> See Mainz's Conference League fixtures here
Recap the match action against Zrinjski below...
1 - 0(1 - 0)
Mainz
FINAL
Zrinjski
90' +4
vs
Widmer again!
The Swiss pounces on a loose ball inside the Zrinjski box, but his powerful effort flashes wide of the left post.
90' +2
vs
Widmer!
Gleiber plays a teasing cross in from the left, which Widmer gets his head to. However, the Mainz captain's effort flies over the bar.
90' +1
vs
Stoppage time
Seven additional minutes are indicated.
90'
vs
Bobzien brought off
The youngster produced a memorable performance and was heavily involved with the only goal of the game. He has since been replaced by Lee.
90'
vs
Jae-sung Lee
Ben Bobzien
87'
vs
Toni Majić
Kerim Memija
86'
vs
Check complete...
No penalty is awarded.
85'
vs
Check underway
Play is halted whilst VAR check for a potential penalty following a blocked Maloney shot.
84'
vs
Last-ditch
Sieb is slipped through on goal, but has three defenders around him, one of which just manages to put a challenge in before the substitute can let fly.
82'
vs
Caught by surprise
Djurasek takes a free-kick from near the left touchline inside Mainz's half. Zentner seems to think the player is crossing to a teammate, but Djurasek's ball is creeping in at the far corner. At the last minute, the goalkeeper adjusts and claws it away from his goal.
81'
vs
No penalty!
Dujmović had been penalised for a challenge inside his own box on Bobzien, with Mainz being awarded a penalty kick. However, the referee is advised to go to the monitor by the VAR, and overturns his initial decision, scrubbing both the penalty and yellow card off.
78'
vs
Vitalie Damașcan
76'
vs
Phillipp Mwene
Sota Kawasaki
75'
vs
Further changes
Zrinjski make another double alteration, introducing Ćavar and Damașcan. Goalkeeper Karačić is back to his feet now, too.
75'
vs
Vitalie Damașcan
Mario Ćuže
75'
vs
Marijan Ćavar
Stefano Surdanović
73'
vs
In by Nebel
After winning a free-kick down the right-flank, Nebel delivers the set-piece, but goalkeeper Karačić manages to punch it clear before painfully colliding with teammate Mašić. He has since stayed down and is receiving treatment.
67'
vs
Triple change
Bo Henriksen makes three substitutions with just over 20 minutes to play. Gleiber comes on to make only his second-ever senior Mainz appearance. He is joined by Nebel and Sieb.
67'
vs
Armindo Sieb
Nelson Weiper
66'
vs
Daniel Gleiber
Kaishu Sano
66'
vs
Paul Nebel
William Bøving
65'
vs
Memija sees yellow
The Zrinjski man goes into the book for a late challenge on Widmer.
65'
vs
Kerim Memija
64'
vs
Double change
The visitors are the first to go to the bench, introducing Burey and Mikić as they continue to chase this one-goal deficit.
63'
vs
Leo Mikić
Jakov Pranjić
63'
vs
Tyler Burey
Nemanja Bilbija
63'
vs
Overhit
Bobzien plays Bøving through down the right flank with a clever ball, but the Dane puts too much on the subsequent cross and his arriving teammates can't reach it.
58'
vs
Miskicked
Kohr, of all people, finds himself at the byline visitors' byline for Mainz. He cuts back for Maloney, whose effort from inside the box is mishit and flies wide of the mark. That was Mainz's best chance of the half so far.
57'
vs
Speculative
Widmer pounces on a loose clearance and opts to let fly from 30 yards. He strikes it well, but his effort is always going high and wide of the mark.
54'
vs
Bilbija booked
The visitors' captain goes into the book for preventing Mainz from restarting with their free-kick.
53'
vs
Nemanja Bilbija
53'
vs
In from Surdanović
Potulski concedes a foul down Mainz's right about 35 yards from goal. Surdanović takes, curling a cross in towards Bilbija, but the Zrinjski captain is penalised for a foul.
49'
vs
Goalmouth scramble!
Kawasaki sends the goalscorer charging up the left flank with a long ball. Isolated, Weiper does well to win the corner. Bøving takes, the goalkeeper misses the punch, and it drops for Widmer, who tries to poke it home. A mad scramble ensues and Memija just manages to clear it off the line to deny Mainz a second!
46'
vs
Back underway!
10-man Zrinjski get the ball rolling again for the second half here at the MEWA Arena.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +1
vs
Hanche-Olsen booked
The defender sees yellow for an overly physical challenge on Bilbija.
45' +1
vs
Andreas Hanche-Olsen
45'
vs
Stoppage time
One additional minute is indicated.
43'
vs
Corner for the visitors
Djurasek takes it short, playing a one-two, before whipping a cross into the box. Mainz are first to the ball and head it clear up to Weiper.
39'
vs
Savić dismissed!
The visitors are down to 10 men! Defensive midfielder Savić arrives very late in on Bobzien with studs showing, and the referee doesn't hesitate to brandish the red card.
38'
vs
Igor Savić
35'
vs
Bøving takes
Mainz have another set-piece from a promising position high up the right flank. Bøving floats a cross in, but the visitors head clear.
29'
vs
Visitors look to respond
Zrinjski aren't taking the opener lying down and put Mainz under pressure up the other end, winning a corner off Hanche-Olsen.
24'
vs
Weiper opens the scoring!
A low Widmer cross from the right finds Bobzien inside the box, who moves it to Weiper to his left. On the first time of asking, the young striker's effort ricochets off the inside of the post and straight back to him, allowing the Mainz talisman to finish into an empty net. 1-0!
21'
vs
Dangerous flick-on
A teasing cross is curled in from the right and finds the head of captain Bilbija, who nods it goalwards, but none of his teammates can get a further touch and the ball goes behind for a Mainz goal-kick.
20'
vs
Clash of heads
There's a brief stoppage after Kawasaki and Vranjković knock heads. Both are deemed okay to continue, and play resumes with a Zrinjski free-kick.