Bundesliga
An early goal from Robin Quaison and a Daniel Brosinski penalty were enough for Mainz to take all three points away to a tough and determined Paderborn, who grabbed a quick equalizer through Ben Zolinski, but couldn‘t convert a late penalty.
Paderborn 1-2 Mainz
Goals: 0-1 Quaison (8’), 1-1 Zolinski (14’), 1-2 Brosinski (32’ pen.)
Paderborn bossed possession in the early stages, but Mainz would be the first to strike. Levin Öztunali got the better of Mohamed Dräger and smartly played the ball over the top to find Robin Quaison, who controlled well and dispatched the ball through the legs of the onrushing Leopold Zingerle. The home side didn’t take kindly to going behind and wasted no time getting back on level terms. Dräger cut in from the right and laid the ball off to Ben Zolinski who turned deftly and tucked the ball into the bottom right corner of the net. Just past the half-hour mark, Mainz made a determined break on the counter, storming into the Paderborn area and winning a penalty. Up stepped captain Daniel Brosinski who cooly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. The rest of the half saw Paderborn return to their quick passing and domination of possession, with Mainz looking dangerous when they managed to win the ball back.
With no changes made at the break, the second half began as the first had left off; Paderborn content to work the ball around and probe for opportunities, and Mainz ready to capitalise on any errors. Unable to break down their opponents and needing a goal, Paderborn made the first changes of the match with Marlon Ritter coming on for Klaus Gjasula and American striker Khiry Shelton replacing Sven Michel. Ritter nearly managed to unlock the Mainz defense when he danced past two defenders into the penalty area, but his shot found only the side netting. Paderborn were handed a late lifeline with a penalty of their own when Brosinski handled in the box, but Jamilu Collins couldn’t beat Robin Zentner, who guessed the right way a got across to make the save. With five minutes of regulation time remaining, Sandro Schwarz brought on Adam Szalai in hopes of making the result secure, but in the end, a third goal proved unnecessary as Mainz held on to take their first points away from home.
Paderborn: Zingerle – Dräger, Kilian, Schonlau, Collins – Cauly (Antwi-Adjei 84'), Vasiliadis, Gjasula (c) (Ritter 64'), Pröger – Zolinski (14'), Michel (Shelton 65')
Unused subs: Huth, Hünemeier, Stohdiek, Sabiri, Jans, Holtmann
Out: -
Coach: Steffen Baumgart
Mainz: Zentner – Baku, St. Juste, Niakhate, Brosinski (c) (32' pen.) – Öztunali, Fernandes, Kunde – Boetius (Barreiro Martins 90'+3) – Onisiwo (Szalai 85'), Quaison (8') (Burkardt 77')
Unused subs: Müller, Latza, Maxim, Meier, Awoniyi, Hack
Out: Bell (ankle), Ji (knee), Martin (groin), Mateta (knee), Pierre-Gabriel (tonsilitis)
Coach: Sandro Schwarz