Adam Szalai was in inspirational form for Mainz as they beat Hoffenheim

Szalai superb for Mainz, Wolfsburg win at last

27.10.2012

Munich - Adam Szalai was in inspired form as he hit a hat-trick in 1. FSV Mainz 05's trouncing of 1899 Hoffenheim. VfL Wolfsburg beat Fortuna Düsseldorf in their first match under caretaker boss Lorenz-Günther Köstner, while SV Werder Bremen were held to a draw by Greuther Fürth.

1. FSV Mainz 05 3- 0 1899 Hoffenheim

Adam Szalai’s first ever Bundesliga hat-trick earned Mainz all three points against Hoffenheim at the Coface Arena.

Despair then joy

Szalai had his head in his hands after missing a good early chance to give the hosts the lead, the Hungarian frontman was soon raising his arms to the air in celebration after putting the 05ers in front in the 21st minute. Junior Diaz battled his way past Daniel Williams before sending in a cross from the left which was met by the former Real Madrid reserve, who headed in unchallenged. Hoffenheim missed a good opportunity of their own to level in the 37th minute when Roberto Firmino’s low, inviting ball was met by Joselu sliding in, but the Brazilian was unable to direct the ball inside the post.

Szalai show

Only 19 seconds of the second half had elapsed when Szalai doubled Mainz’s advantage. Colombian midfielder Elkin Soto teed up the striker, who picked his spot to the right of Tim Wiese. It was the latter’s turn to hold his head in his hands in the 64th minute when Szalai completed his hat-trick, heading in Nicolai Müller’s corner from the left. The 24-year-old forward returned the favour by sending Müller through, but Wiese was alert to the danger this time and raced off his line to clear as Hoffenheim capitulated.

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Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-4 VfL Wolfsburg

All eyes were on Lorenz-Günther Köstner as he took his place on the Wolfsburg bench for the second time in his career and the 60-year-old will have been delighted by the way his Wolves won for only the second time this term with a 4-1 triumph in Düsseldorf.

Strikers on target

The away side needed time to get warmed up but ended the first half with a glut of chances. Fabian Giefer was called into action shortly before the break to save Adam Bodzek’s blushes as he almost put through his own net and the Fortuna keeper did even better to tip Bas Dost’s header onto the crossbar.

However, the hosts' resistance was broken five minutes into the second half as Ivica Olic burst down the left and sent in a low cross which Dost flicked in at the near post for his second of the season. Olic made it two in the 53rd minute when Diego was given too much freedom to carry the ball. The Brazilian's diagonal pass picked out the Croatian in space at the far post, though there was still work to do as Olic threaded his shot between Giefer and the upright.

Penalties apiece

Makoto Hasebe sent in a cross for Dost to convert from close range to complete his first brace in the Bundesliga as the Wolves began to take proper charge as the game entered its final quarter. A penalty in the 71st minute, scored by Jens Langeneke after Olic tripped Oliver Fink, reduced the arrears, but Wolfsburg restored their three-goal advantage with a penalty of their own after Fink was dismissed for a foul on Diego. The Brazilian stepped up to slot in a fourth for the Wolves, who move off the foot of the table.

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Greuther Fürth 1-1 SV Werder Bremen

Greuther Fürth took the lead for the first time at the Trolli Arena this season, but it was not enough for all three points as the Clover Leaves were pegged back by Werder Bremen.

Maiden home goal

Following on from their impressive performance against 1899 Hoffenheim last week, Fürth started confidently. Bremen survived an early scare four minutes into the game when Sokratis Papastathopoulos' defensive sloppiness allowed Edu to pounce, but the Brazilian's effort was saved by Sebastian Mielitz. The Fürth forward did better shortly after, though, as he ghosted in unmarked to slot in the club's first ever Bundesliga home goal.

Nonetheless, Werder responded well and dictated the action-packed encounter, with Marko Arnautovic missing twice with only Max Grün to beat. The goalkeeper also reacted well to dey Kevin de Bruyne and Nils Petersen, but Werder's probing eventually paid dividends as the latter nodded in from six yards, crowning a brilliant one-two between Arnautovic and Zlatko Junuzovic.

Chances at both ends

After a comparably quiet start to the second half, the game sparked into life after 15 minutes with chances at both ends. Edu tried his luck from distance while Petersen twice should have added a fourth goal to his tally for the season. Arnautovic also squandered a good opportunity while, at the other end, Mielitz reacted well to stop Edgar Prib's effort and Thomas Kleine should have done better when he headed the ball past the post. Heinrich Schmidtgal then squandered the final chance of the game, firing just wide from a good 20 yards, leaving both sides to suffice with a point.

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