A goal either side of half-time from Cleber and Rafael van der Vaart put a very poor Mainz side to the sword. HSV were dominant throughout, with the visitors failing to force any real pressure on Jaroslav Drobny's goal all afternoon. When they finally did Shinji Okazaki's header was too little too late and nothing more than a consolation; something that the Northerners would have been disappointed about in a largely promising performance.
Josef Zinnbauer made several changes after falling to defeat against Augsburg last weekend. After going a goal up, his side capitulated and eventually lost the game three-one, so the return of previously suspended Dennis Diekmeier for Ashton Götz was a big plus. Cleber, Lewis Holtby, Petr Jiracek and Pierre-Michel Lasogga came in for Heiko Westermann (knee ligaments), Valon Behrami (muscle problems), Matthias Ostrzolek and Mohamed Gouaida.
As for Kasper Hjulmand, they were aiming to return to their early season form. Nikolce Noveski and Filip Djuricic came in for Philipp Wollscheid and Gonzala Jara, with club captain Noveski's return well received by the away support in the Imtech Arena.
The game was a slow burner, with Loris Karius being the main-man in the opening exchanges. A link with Benfica doesn't seem to be dissipating, and some confident and early claims early on were showing just why the Portuguese champions think so highly of him. Zinnbauer's decision to play Rafael van der Vaart in a deeper role seemed to be paying off, controlling the game and creating chances, but Cleber couldn't find the crucial touch.
Although, Karius could only keep the relentless attack of HSV out for so long and Cleber was there to apply the finish this time. After a corner, which former-Mainz man Nicolai Müller felt should have been a penalty, the winger saw his shot brilliantly blocked by Nikolce Noveski. Unfortunately for the veteran defender, the ball fell straight to Celber and he smashed past the Mainz goalkeeper. The old adage about all Brazilians having the ability to finish was true in this case, even though Karius was unfortunate not to keep the ball out.
The hosts were pressing for a second and Müller almost delivered, but after collecting Artjoms Rudnevs' smart pass he could only fire wide of the visiting goal. Müller was proving a real thorn in his former employer's side, but he was denied again by an inspired Karius. Mainz were offering little-to-no attacking threat and had their goalkeeper to thank that they weren't further behind at the break.
Despite the words of Hjulmand at half-time, their was no immediate improvement from his side and they were soon two goals down. Noveski was having a torrid time and when he handled Dennis Diekmeier's cross. Sascha Stegemann had no choice and pointed to the spot; van der Vaart stepped up to send Kaius the wrong way, for his second goal in as many games. It could have been three just moments later, though Rudnevs smart build-up play with Lasogga resulted in the Latvian firing straight at Karius.
The hosts were still pressing for more and the fans were baying for blood, but they couldn't find a way past Karius again. When Mainz finally did have a shot, Daniel Brosinski's effort was spilled by Jaroslav Drobny, but no-one was alert to pounce on the rebound. Eventually the visitors began to press the ball, they began to gain a foothold, but van der Vaart almost struck again to add a certain gloss to the score-line. Shinji Okazaki did grab a goal, an instinctive header from a corner, but even his eighth goal of the season couldn't spark a come back and they slipped to their sixth consecutive game without a win.
HSV held on for a vital three points that moved them up to thirteenth, just a point behind today's opponents. Mainz themselves will start to worry with a tough run in and Hjulamnd's side sit just three points above bottom club VfB Stuttgart. Although there is one spot of luck for the Carnival club, as they face the Swabians next Saturday. Zinnbauer and his charges make the trip to Freiburg, hoping to build upon a very promising performance.