Rain and goals pour down as Hamburg sweep aside Mainz

 Merlin Polzin’s side delivered an emphatic performance, scoring twice as many goals as they had in the entire season to date whilst overwhelming Bo Henriksen’s team from minute one. 

Mainz did little to dispel talk of a European hangover as HSV made a blistering start to stun their visitors. It took only six minutes for the hosts to break the deadlock: Giorgi Gocholeishvili’s swerving shot was tipped onto the post by Lasse Rieß, but Albert Sambi Lokonga reacted quickest to slot home unopposed.

The nightmare start continued just four minutes later. Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer’s cross caused chaos in the box, and Rayan Philippe outmuscled Andreas Hanche-Olsen before firing in from close range to make it 2-0.

Sensing momentum, HSV pushed for a third. Königsdörffer went close himself after being played into the area, but his low effort was kept out by Rieß. Bo Henriksen’s side were relieved when the tempo dropped following the frenetic opening phase, allowing Mainz to settle into the game. The visitors looked to build via the flanks, but their deliveries were consistently cleared by a disciplined Hamburg back line.

Kaishu Sano registered Mainz’s best chance of the half with a curling effort from distance that drew a smart save from Daniel Heuer Fernandes. Beyond that, the 05ers offered little threat as HSV went into the interval with a deserved 2-0 advantage.

Mainz started the second half with renewed energy, with Henriksen’s half-time words likely still ringing in their ears. Yet any hopes of an early comeback were short-lived. Just seven minutes after the restart, the visitors appealed for a foul on the halfway line, but HSV played to the whistle. The move ended with Jean-Luc Dompé unleashing a fierce strike from the left side of the box that beat Lasse Rieß at his near post to make it 3-0.

The hosts weren’t finished there. Nine minutes later, Mainz once again lost possession high up the pitch, allowing Nicolai Remberg to drive forward and release Rayan Philippe. The Frenchman showed composure in front of goal, advancing into the box before lifting the ball calmly over Rieß to compound the goalkeeper’s difficult afternoon and extend Hamburg’s lead to 4-0.