Nobody told SV Elversberg that promoted clubs are supposed to struggle. The newly promoted side from Saarland opened matchday eight on Friday night by dismantling Mainz 4-1, and the contest was effectively settled by half-time at 3-0. The win lifts Elversberg to fifth in the table, at least until the weekend games are done.
Felix Keidel set the tone after seven minutes, bending a free kick from around 20 metres past the wall and into the corner. It was his second direct free-kick goal of the campaign, more than anyone else in the division, and he was involved in six attempts on goal before fans named him player of the match. Midway through the half David Mokwa carried the ball deep into Mainz territory and teed up Francis Onyeka for his first Bundesliga goal. In first-half stoppage time Maurice Krattenmacher pounced after a corner was only half cleared.
Mainz had arrived with three away wins from three, yet they looked toothless. Coach Urs Fischer made four changes just after the hour, and substitute Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer briefly thought he had pulled one back, only for VAR to rule it out for offside.
Elversberg saved the best for last. Substitute Cole Campbell chested the ball down and finished with an acrobatic bicycle kick in added time. Benedict Hollerbach replied moments later, far too late to matter. The night got worse for the visitors when defender Stefan Posch collected a second yellow card, ruling him out of next week’s meeting with Bayern Munich.
