Comeback with a crown: St. Juste lets Mainz cheer
Created: 2022-01-15Updated: 2022-01-15, 5:39 p.m
Mainz's Jonathan Burkhardt (M) plays against Bochum's Anthony Losilla.
© Torsten Silz/dpa
FSV Mainz 05 also made VfL Bochum feel its strength at home.
Thanks to a goal from returnee Jeremiah St. Juste in the 48th minute, coach Bo Svensson's team beat the promoted team 1-0 (0-0) in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
The rough duel between the two teams from the middle of the table in front of only 1000 allowed spectators clearly looked like a relegation battle.
Mainz – Mainz keeper Robin Zentner saved a weak penalty kick from Sebastian Polter (32nd).
Both opponents will see each other again on Tuesday (8.45 p.m.) - in the DFB Cup round of 16 in Bochum.
Mainz have now been unbeaten in six games at the Mewa Arena and have kept a clean sheet in the last three games (previously 3-0 against Wolfsburg and 4-0 against Hertha BSC).
At the same time, after the 4-1 loss at the start of the year in Leipzig, they were happy about their first sense of achievement in the second half of the season.
For the hosts, the personal situation had eased somewhat despite a few absences: the long-term injured Jeremiah St. Juste returned to the team, as did Moussa Niakhaté: the captain was able to be tested free of charge in good time after a corona illness.
The defense of the hosts was secure against mostly unimaginative Bochumers.
Both teams showed a game characterized by duels.
The pressing and liberating blows echoed again and again through the almost empty stadium.
The Mainzers tried to make something out of their playful superiority.
But it took almost half an hour before Leandro Barreiro tested keeper Manuel Riemann with a shot.
Bochum's chance to take the lead was all the more surprising: Stefan Bell came too late in the penalty area against Polter, and referee Frank Willenborg awarded a penalty after video evidence.
But the former Mainzer Polter failed at goalkeeper Zentner and thus missed his seventh goal of the season.
After the break, Mainz U21 national player Jonathan Burkardt made an appearance: first the top talent put Riemann under pressure with a dangerous diving header, then St. Juste used his cross to take a 1-0 lead.
Riemann had no chance with the low shot into the left corner.
Dutchman St. Juste scored against FC Bayern for the first time since scoring on February 1, 2020.
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Shortly afterwards, Burkardt missed the 2-0 when Riemann blocked his shot - but Mainz dominated the second half and ultimately deserved the win.
Bochum's new striker Jürgen Locadia from English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion made his debut for VfL shortly before the end and missed the chance to equalize in added time.
dpa
