VfB Stuttgart
| 1-0 | Abdellaoue | (11. Min) |
1. FSV Mainz 05
| 1-1 | Okazaki | (39. Min) |
| 1-2 | Saller | (87. Min) |
Nikolce Noveski
Stats 
Re-start disappointment
VfB have begun the second half of the season with a defeat, as trainer Thomas Schneider’s side were beaten 1-2 by 1. FSV Mainz 05. The visitors snatched a very late winner to sink VfB Stuttgart.
Against Mainz, VfB once again proved just why they are currently the most dangerous side in the Bundesliga within the first quarter hour. With just two minutes played, Konstantin Rausch swung in a cross from the left for Martin Harnik. The Austrian international was unable to make a clean contact, and thus the chance went untaken, but in the eleventh minute, the home fans were on their feet and celebrating the club’s first Bundesliga goal in 2014. Moritz Leitner played the ball down the left for Alexandru Maxim to drill a delivery towards the Mainz goal, where Vedad Ibisevic stopped in to head on goal. Mainz keeper Loris Karius could only parry the Bosnian’s effort and Mohammed Abdellaoue pounced on the loose ball and slotted home to put VfB in front early on – as has so often been the case.
With the wind of the opener in their sails, the hosts continued to press forward and create chances. Firstly Gotoku Sakai tested the visitor’s keeper with a powerful shot from the edge of the box. Then, in the 26th minute, the ball was in the back of the Mainz net again. Martin Harnik put the ball in the net following an Alexandru Maxim corner, but referee Daniel Siebert spotted a foul from the striker and blew for a free-kick to FSV. VfB had controlled the tie for the first half-hour, but as the first half entered its closing phase, Mainz raised their game and began to create openings. Shinji Okazaki pulled an initial shot wide of Sven Ulreich’s goal (38’), but, just a minute later, the Japanese international benefitted from confusion in the Stuttgart defence and slotted into an empty net to make it 1-1 going into the break.
Quote for the game
Thomas Schneider: "Of course we are dissatisfied with the result."
Post match comments
Schneider’s men took charge once again from the beginning of the second half, whilst the guest retreated back to defend in numbers. The first chance of the second period fell to VfB, with Alexandru Maxim playing through to Vedad Ibisevic.
The Bosnian was able to take possession in the Mainz area but was could not turn his effort on target. With an hour on the clock, VfB trainer Thomas Schneider opted to make two substitutes, with Alexandru Maxim and Martin Harnik making way for Timo Werner and Ibrahima Traoré respectively. The latter was involved in one of the better VfB moves in the second period, but again an opening went unused, as Christian Gentner’s header from a Traoré corner was saved by Loris Karius (70’). VfB had a further chance to take the lead again through Ibrahima Traoré (83’), but there was to be no way through.
Shortly before the end, the hosts were then cruelly caught cold. In the 87th minute, Benedikt Saller made effective use of Mainz‘ first clear chance of the half, to slot home and make it 2-1 for the visitors. There was to be no way back for VfB, who began the second half of their Bundesliga campaign with a disappointing home defeat.
