Elversberg stuns Mainz to move into Bundesliga top 5

Newly promoted SV Elversberg moved up to fifth in the Bundesliga after a convincing 4-1 win over Mainz on Friday, with three first-half goals putting the hosts firmly in control, reported Xinhua.

Elversberg set the tone from the start and opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Philipp Mwene gave the ball away near his own penalty area. Keidel capitalized on the turnover, curling a 20-meter free kick into the corner past a returning Robin Zentner.

Mainz struggled to create clear chances and conceded again in the 26th minute. David Mokwa carried the ball forward and released Onyeka, who held off Paul Nebel before finishing for his first Bundesliga goal.

Although Mainz began to spend more time in Elversberg's half later in the half, the hosts remained the greater threat. Lukas Petkov fired wide in the 40th minute, and Krattenmacher made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time after Zentner failed to clear Keidel's corner, leaving Krattenmacher to evade Nadiem Amiri and Nebel and drive a low finish into the corner.

Mainz coach Urs Fischer made four changes in the 63rd minute, bringing on Hollerbach, Silvan Widmer, Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer and Lennard Maloney. Konigsdorffer looked to have pulled one back three minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a video review. At the other end, Zentner denied Mokwa on a breakaway.

Campbell added a fourth for Elversberg in stoppage time, controlling Nicholas Mickelson's cross on his chest before acrobatically finishing. Hollerbach immediately reduced the deficit from Konigsdorffer's low delivery, but Mainz substitute Stefan Posch was then sent off for a second booking and will miss the next league match.

"What we showed was very disappointing. We worked hard to make a good start to the season, but our performances in the last two games have been very disappointing," Mainz sporting director Niko Bungert said.

Elversberg has 13 points from eight matches, while Mainz remains on 10. Elversberg visits Borussia Dortmund, while Mainz hosts leader Bayern Munich.