The game started slowly with both sides having tame shots on target. Mainz were just shading it and produced the best chance of the game in the 29th minute when Sami Allagui was put through at a slight ankle but Sven Ulreich saved well.
The home side took the lead through a fantastic costless-kick from Geis. The young German beautifully curling it into the top left corner from just over 20 yards out.
That was a rare moment of quality in a frustrating, quiet first half. Huub Steven’s side had defended well, but posed very little going forward. They nearly conceded a second in first half stoppage time as Junior Diaz headed Geis’ cross wide from five yards.
Die Nullfünfer started the second half as they ended the first but it was the visitors who nearly equalised against the run of play. A nice move saw Daniel Ginzcek have an opportunity but Loris Karius was out quickly to deny him.
Stuttgart did equalise with 18 minutes left. Substitute Kostic crossed the ball, defender Nikolče Noveski pulled out of it at the last minute and Karius, expecting his captain to head it was left helpless as the ball trickled in. A huge slice of luck for VfB.
Substitute Kostic hen fired narrowly wide as the away side improved. Shinji Okazaki nearly won it late on but his snatched effort in the box was cleared off the line by Christian Gentner.