VfL Wolfsburg showed the required reaction – especially with a remarkable first half – and successfully made amends for the 1:6 swatter against Borussia Dortmund last weekend. Lower Saxony won Friday night’s game against FSV Mainz 05 in front of their home crowd 5-0 (5-0) thanks to goals from Max Kruse (24th, 35th, 45th + 2) and Jonas Wind (8th, 42nd).
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Following the early lead by Winter-Einkauf Wind, it was twice as bitter for Mainz after around 20 minutes. Niklas Tauer brought down Lukas Nmecha in the penalty area. Referee Harm Osmers awarded a penalty and initially showed Tauer a yellow card. After viewing the video images, however, he decided to use the emergency brake and sent the 21-year-old off the pitch. Returnee Kruse finally converted safely from the point to 2:0.
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As a result, the decimated guests completely lost control and Wolfsburg went into a goal frenzy at times. After a long ball from Maxi Arnold, Ridle Baku volleyed a cross to Kruse, who also scored his second goal with a direct acceptance. Shortly before the half-time whistle, Wind and Kruse scored his third goal for the half-time position that VfL had been behind in Dortmund a few days ago – checked off at this point at the latest.
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The second half went as expected given the score: Wolfsburg dropped a gear or two so as not to risk injuries in a game that had already been decided and Mainz tried to limit the damage with one man down.
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With the win, VfL moves up to two points behind FSV in ninth place and, as eleventh in the table, has at least a temporary nine-point lead over the relegation rank and can very likely plan for another year in the Bundesliga in the form of Friday evening.
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