Guirassy fires VfB to victory in Mainz

VfB Stuttgart continued their fine form this season as Serhou Guirassy hit a hat-trick in a 3-1 win away to 1. FSV Mainz 05. In a hard-fought first half, both teams were only able to create one presentable chance apiece. Alexander Nübel thwarted a fine shot from Marco Richter in the ninth minute, while at the other end of the pitch Robin Zentner stopped Silas breaking the deadlock (38’), leaving the match goalless at the interval.

Guirassy hat-trick

VfB were the better side after half-time and the outstanding Guirassy opened the scoring in the 56th minute. Mainz equalised through Leandro Barreiro (70’) but Sebastian Hoeneß’ charges continued to push for the win, which deservedly arrived thanks to more clinical finishing from Guirassy (84’, 97’).

The goals

56th minute: Stefan Bell misjudges a long ball, leaving Guirassy free to charge down on goal and dink it overZentner to make it 1-0.

70th minute: Barreiro shoots from a tight angle to level the score. Nübel gets a hand to it but can’t keep the ball out.

84th minute: Guirassy slinks past his marker to restore VfB’s lead! Incredible!

97th minute: Hat-trick! Deniz Undav flicks the ball on to Guirassy, who loops it over the Mainz goalkeeper to seal a 3-1 victory.

VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß: “It was an intensive game, as expected. Mainz closed down the spaces and we weren’t able to find a way through that. However, we did manage to increase the pressure bit by bit. My team deserve credit for their reaction after Mainz equalised. We’re on a roll right now, which helped us shake it off, and up front we’ve got a striker in Serhou who’s putting everything away.”

Serhou Guirassy: “Things are going really well at the moment. We started the match well and we want to play on the front foot. We wouldn’t have won without my team-mates. I’m very happy that we won the game and long may it continue.”