Hoffenheim 2 - 0 Mainz - Hoffenheim eye top six

Posted Sunday, March 01, 2015 by PA

Hoffenheim moved to within two points of the top six as they downed struggling Mainz 2-0 in Sinsheim.

Kevin Volland and Eugen Polanski netted the goals for Markus Gisdol's men, who have slowly crept up on the top six and now have the chance of mixing with the likes of Schalke and Augsburg in the hunt for a place in Europe next season.

Mainz must look over their shoulders again after failing to build on their win from last weekend.

Mainz triumphed on Martin Schmidt's debut as coach a week ago, suddenly rediscovering their scoring boots to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1.

They certainly had their shooting boots on again in Hoffenheim, but scoring was proving to be beyond them.

Christian Clemens shot into side-netting with only Oliver Baumann to beat, after Yunus Malli sent his shot wide on the turn.

Clemens again missed a one-on-one with Baumann early in the second half, this time shooting too close to the Hoffenheim custodian before Mainz were punished for their wastefulness.

After losing possession on the attack, Mainz got caught out on the counter-attack with Volland beating the offside trap from Roberto Firmino's pass to beat Loris Karius easily.

Mainz's response came from Shinji Okazaki, but Baumann was equal to his effort just a minute before Polanski put the result beyond doubt.

Andreas Beck sent his cross to the far post where Polanski was racing in to head Hoffenheim's second.

Mainz tried to salvage the game, but after Okazaki saw a shot blocked, time ran out for Schmidt's men.