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Sinsheim (dpa) - FSV Mainz 05 continues its streak of success in the second half of the season and has left the relegation places of the Bundesliga for the first time since November.
Coach Bo Svensson's team won 2-1 (2-1) at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, overtaking rivals 1. FC Köln and Arminia Bielefeld.
In front of the empty ranks due to the corona, Robert Glatzel and Dominik Kohr (41st minute) scored the goals for the 05er after just 28 seconds.
Mainz was previously on the eighth day of the game and before that only one more time this season.
While Hoffenheim and goal scorer Ihlas Bebou (39th) can finally tick off the European ranks after the second league defeat, Mainz are impressively strong in the second half of the season.
If they were tied with FC Schalke 04 in the first half of the season with seven points, the team scores better in the back series under Svensson than top teams like Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen.
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The guests from Rheinhessen also started at the unusual kick-off time on Sunday lunchtime as they have experienced in the past few weeks: committed and energetic.
Glatzel vigorously disturbed Bayern's loan from Chris Richards and took the first chance to take the lead after 28 seconds.
It was the second fastest goal of the current Bundesliga season and the third fastest goal in the history of the Mainz league.
Glatzel (3rd) could have increased immediately afterwards, but keeper Oliver Baumann prevented the early 0: 2.
The Hoffenheimers, who threatened the tabular insignificance after the bitter cup defeats against Fürth and Molde, delivered a lax appearance.
There was little to be seen of Vice World Champion Andrej Kramaric, seasoned professionals like Kevin Vogt or Sebastian Rudy made serious mistakes in their own half.
Baumann prevented another goal against Jonathan Burkardt (18th) with a strong foot defense.
Sebastian Hoeneß's team managed to equalize all the more surprisingly, and Richards was also involved in this goal: The 20-year-old played a strong ball from the left into the intersection of Bebou, who once escaped the powerful Mainz defense and scored his seventh goal of the season for his own Bundesliga record.
Bebou had already been noticed as the most agile attacker for the Hoffenheim team.
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But TSG's joy only lasted for a short time, until Kohr was able to head in completely free-standing to take the lead again after a rehearsed corner kick variant.
The midfielder, who scored a Bundesliga goal for the first time in 1289 days, grabbed the ball under his jersey, stuck his thumb in his mouth and sent greetings to the family on TV.
Even after the change, it was not clear who the relegation candidate and who the Europa League participant was.
Mainz defended the lead with great commitment and tactical finesse.
Hoffenheim's attacks were almost entirely harmless, the final offensive necessary for a draw failed to materialize.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210321-99-911356 / 2