Nelson Weiper helps Mainz maintain perfect start in UEFA Conference League against Zrinjski Mostar

Nelson Weiper's first-half finish proved the difference for Mainz in their first UEFA Conference League home game against Bosnian champions Zrinjski Mostar, with the 05ers claiming another confident win and keeping another clean sheet in their continental campaign.

Mainz 1-0 Zrinjski Mostar
Goals: 1-0 Weiper 24’
Red card: Savić 39’

A much-changed Mainz side flew out of the gates on their home return to proper continental football for the first time in nine years.

Converting his side’s dominance into numerical advantage was the 05ers' beloved son Nelson Weiper, who fired his side into the lead midway through the half from close range, following a strong team move involving Silvan Widmer and Ben Bobzien.

Things went from bad to worse for their Bosnian visitors, as defensive midfielder Igor Savić was sent off for a very late challenge on Bobzien, allowing Mainz to take a very confident lead in at the break.

The hosts picked up where they left off in the second half, nearly doubling their lead through a mad goalmouth scramble following a corner. Silvan Widmer’s prodded effort was cleared off the line to keep the scores at 1-0.

The 05ers continued to look dominant throughout the half, though found clear-cut chances hard to come by. They thought they had a penalty late on after Bobzien was seemingly brought down in the box, but following a lengthy VAR check, that too was scrubbed off.

Despite not managing to break down a compact Zrinjski again in the second half, Bo Henriksen's side maintained their perfect start with successive wins in this season's Conference League.

Mainz are back in action on 6 November when they welcome Italian side Fiorentina to the MEWA Arena.

See Mainz's Conference League fixtures here

Recap the match action against Zrinjski below...

1 - 0

(1 - 0)

Mainz

FINAL

Zrinjski

Conference League
League phase, Matchday 2 League phase, Matchday 2 MEWA Arena

Full-time: Mainz 1-0 Zrinjski

Weiper's first half opener ultimately proves to be the difference in Mainz's first Conference League home encounter. Visitors Zrinjski deserved credit for remaining compact in the second half with their numerical disadvantage. However, Mainz were not without their chances. Widmer went very close right at the start of the half and at the end, whilst Maloney squandered a good opportunity to score his first for the 05ers midway through the half. Nevertheless, Mainz maintain their perfect start to their European campaign.

© IMAGO/Gerhard Schultheiß

Full-time

90'

+ 4

Widmer again!

The Swiss pounces on a loose ball inside the Zrinjski box, but his powerful effort flashes wide of the left post.

90'

+ 2

Widmer!

Gleiber plays a teasing cross in from the left, which Widmer gets his head to. However, the Mainz captain's effort flies over the bar.

90'

+ 1

Stoppage time

Seven additional minutes are indicated.

90'

Bobzien brought off

The youngster produced a memorable performance and was heavily involved with the only goal of the game. He has since been replaced by Lee.

90'

Substitution

Jae-sung Lee

Ben Bobzien

87'

Substitution

Toni Majić

Kerim Memija

86'

Check complete...

No penalty is awarded.

85'

Check underway

Play is halted whilst VAR check for a potential penalty following a blocked Maloney shot.

84'

Last-ditch

Sieb is slipped through on goal, but has three defenders around him, one of which just manages to put a challenge in before the substitute can let fly.

82'

Caught by surprise

Djurasek takes a free-kick from near the left touchline inside Mainz's half. Zentner seems to think the player is crossing to a teammate, but Djurasek's ball is creeping in at the far corner. At the last minute, the goalkeeper adjusts and claws it away from his goal.

81'

No penalty!

Dujmović had been penalised for a challenge inside his own box on Bobzien, with Mainz being awarded a penalty kick. However, the referee is advised to go to the monitor by the VAR, and overturns his initial decision, scrubbing both the penalty and yellow card off.

78'

Yellow card

Vitalie Damașcan

Kawasaki replaced

The Japanese had given a really good account of himself down the left on his first start for Mainz. He comes of for usual starter Mwene.

© IMAGO/wolfstone-photo

76'

Substitution

Phillipp Mwene

Sota Kawasaki

75'

Further changes

Zrinjski make another double alteration, introducing Ćavar and Damașcan. Goalkeeper Karačić is back to his feet now, too.

75'

Substitution

Vitalie Damașcan

Mario Ćuže

75'

Substitution

Marijan Ćavar

Stefano Surdanović

73'

In by Nebel

After winning a free-kick down the right-flank, Nebel delivers the set-piece, but goalkeeper Karačić manages to punch it clear before painfully colliding with teammate Mašić. He has since stayed down and is receiving treatment.

The goalscorer departs

Weiper's goal remains all that separates the sides here as he leaves the field to rapturous applause and is replaced by Sieb.

© Alex Grimm

67'

Triple change

Bo Henriksen makes three substitutions with just over 20 minutes to play. Gleiber comes on to make only his second-ever senior Mainz appearance. He is joined by Nebel and Sieb.

67'

Substitution

Armindo Sieb

Nelson Weiper

66'

Substitution

Daniel Gleiber

Kaishu Sano

66'

Substitution

Paul Nebel

William Bøving

65'

Memija sees yellow

The Zrinjski man goes into the book for a late challenge on Widmer.

65'

Yellow card

Kerim Memija

64'

Double change

The visitors are the first to go to the bench, introducing Burey and Mikić as they continue to chase this one-goal deficit.

63'

Substitution

Leo Mikić

Jakov Pranjić

63'

Substitution

Tyler Burey

Nemanja Bilbija

63'

Overhit

Bobzien plays Bøving through down the right flank with a clever ball, but the Dane puts too much on the subsequent cross and his arriving teammates can't reach it.

A look back at the red card

Impressively, Zrinjski have not conceded a second since going down to 10 men and are still in the game here at the MEWA Arena.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Hahne

58'

Miskicked

Kohr, of all people, finds himself at the byline visitors' byline for Mainz. He cuts back for Maloney, whose effort from inside the box is mishit and flies wide of the mark. That was Mainz's best chance of the half so far.

57'

Speculative

Widmer pounces on a loose clearance and opts to let fly from 30 yards. He strikes it well, but his effort is always going high and wide of the mark.

54'

Bilbija booked

The visitors' captain goes into the book for preventing Mainz from restarting with their free-kick.

53'

Yellow card

Nemanja Bilbija

53'

In from Surdanović

Potulski concedes a foul down Mainz's right about 35 yards from goal. Surdanović takes, curling a cross in towards Bilbija, but the Zrinjski captain is penalised for a foul.

49'

Goalmouth scramble!

Kawasaki sends the goalscorer charging up the left flank with a long ball. Isolated, Weiper does well to win the corner. Bøving takes, the goalkeeper misses the punch, and it drops for Widmer, who tries to poke it home. A mad scramble ensues and Memija just manages to clear it off the line to deny Mainz a second!

46'

Back underway!

10-man Zrinjski get the ball rolling again for the second half here at the MEWA Arena.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Mainz 1-0 Zrinjski

The 05ers head in at the break with their noses in front courtesy of Nelson Weiper's clinical, close-ranged opener. It's been smooth sailing for a much-changed Mainz side, who have a numerical advantage in terms of both the scoreline, and numbers on the pitch, following Igor Savić's dismissal for his late challenge on Bobzien. Bo Henriksen will no doubt be asking for more of the same from his side in the second half.

© IMAGO/Gerhard Schultheiß

Half-time

45'

+ 1

Hanche-Olsen booked

The defender sees yellow for an overly physical challenge on Bilbija.

45'

+ 1

Yellow card

Andreas Hanche-Olsen

45'

Stoppage time

One additional minute is indicated.

43'

Corner for the visitors

Djurasek takes it short, playing a one-two, before whipping a cross into the box. Mainz are first to the ball and head it clear up to Weiper.

39'

Savić dismissed!

The visitors are down to 10 men! Defensive midfielder Savić arrives very late in on Bobzien with studs showing, and the referee doesn't hesitate to brandish the red card.

38'

Red card

Igor Savić

35'

Bøving takes

Mainz have another set-piece from a promising position high up the right flank. Bøving floats a cross in, but the visitors head clear.

Weiper celebrates

Who else but the home-grown Mainz talent to open the scoring on their return to proper European football?

© IMAGO/Paul Fritz

29'

Visitors look to respond

Zrinjski aren't taking the opener lying down and put Mainz under pressure up the other end, winning a corner off Hanche-Olsen.

24'

Weiper opens the scoring!

A low Widmer cross from the right finds Bobzien inside the box, who moves it to Weiper to his left. On the first time of asking, the young striker's effort ricochets off the inside of the post and straight back to him, allowing the Mainz talisman to finish into an empty net. 1-0!

24'

Nelson Weiper

GOAL!

1:0

21'

Dangerous flick-on

A teasing cross is curled in from the right and finds the head of captain Bilbija, who nods it goalwards, but none of his teammates can get a further touch and the ball goes behind for a Mainz goal-kick.

20'

Clash of heads

There's a brief stoppage after Kawasaki and Vranjković knock heads. Both are deemed okay to continue, and play resumes with a Zrinjski free-kick.

17'

Smart run

Bøving plays a lovely reverse pass to find the clever run of Kawasaki to the byline. However, the Japanese wide player's attempted cutback is blocked behind for a corner, which Bøving takes. Zrinjski are first to it again, though, and the chance is cleared.

Electric atmosphere

The MEWA Arena are welcoming European football back with suitable fanfare.

© IMAGO/Gerhard Schultheiß

11'

In by Bøving

The Dane takes a free-kick from the right half-space about 35 yards from goal. He curls one into Weiper, but a Zrinjski head is first to the ball.

9'

Won't drop

Weiper rises high to flick the ball on behind him for Bobzien, but it won't quite fall for the youngster, and Zrinjski manage to clear.

6'

Dangerous position

From the edge of the box, Bobzien tries to slip Kawasaki through but is brought down right on the D. Bøving dummies over the subsequent free-kick, leaving it for Hanche-Olsen, whose powerful low effort flashes just wide of the right post.

Kawasaki!

The ball pops up for Kawasaki on the edge of the Zrinjski box. The Japanese really puts his foot through it, rifling the ball into the side netting at the near post. It's a good start for the player who is making his first start tonight for Mainz.

© IMAGO/Gerhard Schultheiß

1'

And we're off!

The ball is rolling here under the lights at the MEWA Arena.

Kick-off!

Warm-ups complete...

...the action is about to begin!

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Hahne

More on that Mainz side

It's a much-changed Mainz outfit as Bo Henriksen makes a whopping nine changes to his side that suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to Leverkusen at the weekend. Only Kohr and Sano keep their places from that defeat.

© DFL/Getty Images/Pau Barrena

Mainz starting XI

Zentner – Hanche-Olsen, Potulski, Kohr – Widmer (c), Maloney, Sano, Kawasaki – Bobzien, Weiper, Bøving

Mainz subs

Rieß, Batz, Mwene, Lee, Nebel, Nordin, Amiri, Sieb, Veratschnig, Schopp, Debrah, Gleiber

Zrinjski Mostar starting XI

Karačić, Vranjković, Mašić, Dujmović, Memija – Savić, Djurasek – Ćuže, Surdanović, Pranjić – Bilbija (c)

Zrinjski Mostar subs

Ljubić, Filipović, Karačić, Burey, Mikić, Mamić, Ivančić, Šakota, Damașcan, Ćavar, Majić

Zentner on playing in a European competition

"For me, it’s something pretty special – especially because it’s my first time playing in a European competition. We got some initial experience from the game in Cyprus where so many fans joined us, as well as the qualifier at home against Rosenborg."

© DFL/Getty Images/Sebastian Widmann

Henriksen on where the team can improve

"You need to defend and be tough in the challenges. We need to be cleverer, the last two games have shown us that. We need to be better tomorrow."

© DFL/Getty Images/Pau Barrena

Bo Henriksen on facing Zrinjski Mostar

"We've got a game against a tough opponent tomorrow with dangerous players. We want to win the game - three more points would be massive and put us in a good position in the table."

© DFL/Getty Images/Pau Barrena

Henriksen's European record

The Dane has overseen 20 European ties in his career, winning eight, drawing five and losing seven.

No pushovers

Mainz's Bosnian visitors, Zrinjski Mostar, currently sit atop the UEFA Conference League league table, having downed Gibraltarian outfit Lincoln Red Imps 5-0 on Matchday 1. They also sit in second in their domestic league table, however, they will be facing a different calibre of opposition in Mainz.

Play video

1:08

Watch: Mainz 3-4 Leverkusen - highlights

Gathering momentum?

Mainz's position of 16th in the Bundesliga table does not tell the whole story. Only twice this season have they lost by a margin of more than a single goal (2-0 to Dortmund on Matchday 5, 4-0 to Hamburg on Matchday 6). Additionally, the Carnival Club produced a much more impressive performance on Matchday 7, putting three past Leverkusen as they were defeated 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller. Bo Henriksen will be hoping to build on that energetic performance with a Conference League victory over Zrinjski Mostar.

© DFL/Getty Images/Pau Barrena

Encouraging start

After overcoming Rosenborg in the play-offs, Mainz won 1-0 away to Cypriot outfit Omonia on Matchday 1. Germany international Nadiem Amiri scored the decisive goal, dispatching a 75th-minute penalty.

© IMAGO/KOSTAS PIKOULAS

Welcome!

Welcome along to live coverage of Mainz's second match in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina's Zrinjski Mostar on Thursday.

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