A Yunus Malli inspired 1. FSV Mainz 05 made light work in the end of Markus Gisdol's 1899 Hoffenheim at the Coface Arena, after the visitors had taken an early lead through Jonathan Schmid.
Malli made amends to the scores five minutes after the Frenchman had scored his first Hoffenheim goal, before adding further strikers throughout the course of the second period. Die Kraichgauer remain win-less as the pressure begins to heap on Markus Gisdol.
Hosts look to return to winning ways
Martin Schmidt's attentions were firmly on getting his side back to winning ways, after a 2-1 defeat away at the hands of FC Schalke 04 last time out had left die Nullfünfer with six points after four games. The Swiss boss fielded an attacking line-up that featured Yoshinori Muto, who on his last appearance at the Coface Arena (a 3-0 victory over Hannover 96) scored twice in a fifteen minute spell.
Leon Balogun and Danny Latza both made way for Christoph Moritz, who made his first start for eleven months after injury, and Pablo de Blasis respectively; whilst Loris Karius, who despite conceding two at the Veltins Arena came away with the plaudits, continued between the sticks.
Gisdol's side search for first victory
After a summer that had promised so much it has been a horror start to the season for Markus Gisdol's 1899 Hoffenheim side. In the absence of the now departed Roberto Firmino, die Kraichgauern have struggled in both defence and attack and heading into the game remained win-less; their solitary point a goal-less draw at SV Darmstadt 98.
In light of this Gisdol made a plethora of changes to his sides starting eleven for the game in the Rhineland Palatinate. Sebastian Rudy and Jonathan Schmid came in for Mark Uth and Steven Zuber, whilst Eduardo Vargas made his first die Kraichgauer start replacing Kevin Kuranyi in the front three alongside Kevin Volland and Schmid.
Schmid strikes
In terms of chances the opening exchanges of the match were devoid of any, with the hosts dominating possession without really threatening Oliver Baumann in goal for the visitors. However after soaking up what pressure die Nullfünfer did exert with only there first attack of the game, and most likely first foray into Mainz territory die Kraichgauer took a shock early lead.
Niklas Süle dealt with one of a number of disappointing crosses from Pablo de Blasis and Christoph Clemens before finding Eugen Polanski with his clearing header; the Polish midfielder advanced beyond the halfway line before releasing Jonathan Schmid behind Stefan Bell and Niko Bungert. The former SC Freiburg man, who's last goal had come against die Nullfünfer made no mistakes slotting under the on-rushing Loris Karius.
Malli makes amends
Despite falling behind the hosts had some good to take from proceedings, as Markus Gisdol's side had surrendered a 1-0 lead twice previously this season (against Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen) and with the prior form of the Hoffenheim defence an early equalizer was not off the cards.
It came as no surprise when only five minutes after Schmid had gave the visitors the lead, they duly surrendered it. Yoshinori Muto charging through the Hoffenheim, much the same as Polanski had done minutes earlier, before Christoph Clemens eventually found Yunus Malli in a wide left position. The German, who was handed a new extended deal with die Nullfünfer until 2018 recently, cut inside onto his preferred right foot before nutmegging Pavel Kaderábek and beating Baumann at his near post.
The goal extends Malli's goal run to three consecutive games, after previous efforts against Hannover 96 and FC Schalke 04 previously.
Polanski at the centre of all things good for Hoffenheim
The former Mainz man on his return to the Coface Arena was proving to be instrumental for die Kraichgauer and was repaying Markus Gisdol for showing confidence in him, after featuring in every Hoffenheim game this campaign.
The Polish midfielder, instrumental in Schmid's earlier effort nearly created another for his side, as he teed up Kevin Volland who swiveled and beat Stefan Bell on the edge of the sixteen yard box; however the German international somewhat scuffed his eventual effort which still left Karius with work to do it must be said, to which the goalkeeper in all fairness passed with flying colours.
Hosts lack the cutting edge
Save for the Schmid goal, Volland effort and another Schmid strike Loris Karius was rarely called upon during the first half as the hosts saw the majority of possession but the recurring theme was that they were unable to bring Schär, Süle and co many problems. die Nullfünfer often occupied promising positions but the advancing quartet of Muto, Malli, Clemens and de Blasis were unable to muster much more than a shot in vain throughout the opening forty five minutes.
Having said that, if the visitors were able to sure up their own passing and continue to forge chances of their own it would be a long half for the Mainz defence; who had struggled against the pace of Volland, Schmid and Vargas. To combat the threat of the die Nullfünfer front four, Markus Gisdol made a tactical change at the interval as Fabian Schär was replaced by Emir Bičakčić. However the former Eintracht Braunschweig man didn't fare much better than team-mate as the Bosnian picked up a yellow card within minutes of the restart for hacking down the ever troublesome, Muto.
Schmidt's side ramp up the pressure
Bar Malli's goal, the closest die Nullfünfer had came to a second has a flicked Pablo de Blasis header that would've been more adept to Rugby rather than football. However their next headed effort had only the woodwork between a second Mainz goal, as Muto's stooping effort evaded all and was very unlucky not to nestle in the back of the goal.
But debatably an even better chance was to come, as the eventual following cross from the Muto header fell to a completely unmarked Niko Bungert; but it would be safe to say it was clear why the central defender was without a goal since March as the former Schalke 04 youngster rushed his aerial effort and shanked it horribly wide.
Malli makes it two
A consecutive goal scoring run of three is good isn't it? But what about a four in three! That was about to come as Yunus Malli, feeling to better his first strike picked one right out of the top draw to give Martin Schmidt's side a deserved lead based on the second half's proceedings.
Pablo de Blasis finding Malli, this time in an outside right position. The former Borussia Mönchengladbach man shifted the ball onto his left foot, leaving a flat footed Jin-Su Kim in the wake, before curling a sublime effort into the top corner; Baumann left with no chance.
Malli with a memorable performance
die Nullfünfer's front quartet of Muto, de Blasis, Clemens and that man Malli were a sight to behold during the second half tearing the Hoffenheim defence apart at every given opportunity. Gisdol's decision to bring on Bičakčić seemingly backfiring on epic proportions.
Once again Yoshnori Muto was the creator, pulling the ball back from the byline. Christoph Clemens ghosted past the ball leaving an apparent open goal for Malli to round of his game with the match ball; however Jin-Su Kim managed to recover and block Malli's effort but the following rebound would fall once again to the man of the moment who made no mistakes second time round.
The goal proved to be Malli's fifth of the campaign, the midfielder almost equalling his tally from the previous campaign, six, within the opening five games of the season.
Worrying signs for Hoffenheim
As previously mentioned die Kraichgauer had dropped six points from 1-0 winning positions so far this season and the second half collapse at the Coface Arena makes it nine. Another defeat only adds to Markus Gisdol's every more unwanted record of 1899 Hoffenheim's worst every Bundesliga start; the Sinsheim outfit remain without a win and it is only 28 points from their previous 30 Bundesliga games.