Mainz earn deserved point against homesick Wolfsburg | OneFootball

Having started the season with a 9-0 DFB-Pokal victory and a comfortable win away in Heidenheim, Wolfsburg were hoping for more of the same ahead of their first home game of the season. And, they did find the target in the first meaningful action of the match.

Aaron Zehnter scored a stunning goal on his home debut to put Wolfsburg ahead in the ninth minute. Anthony Caci’s deflection made it even more difficult for Robin Zentiner to save the first attempt of the game.

Mainz tried to create openings at the other end, but the next big chance also came from the hosts. Dzenan Pejcinovic, who got the nod by the new coach Paul Simonis after an uninspiring loan spell at Fortuna Düsseldorf, was close to registering his first Bundesliga goal before the half-hour mark.

The visitors were the better side for the rest of the half, but they failed to create chances to test Kamil Grabara. Both coaches made their first changes at the half-time break. Vladislav Cherny, another attacker returning from a loan deal, makes his first appearance back at Volkswagen Arena.

The former Rangers player started the half brightly. Meanwhile, Mainz’s substitute Andreas Hanche-Olsen quickly found his name in the referee’s book when he became the third player to be cautioned from Bo Henriksen’s side.

With Thursday fixtures in back-to-back weeks, Mainz’s depleted squad find it tough to cope with a congested calendar. As for Wolfsburg, they avoided a scare when Maximilian Arnold was able to continue after what seemed a serious injury. Wolfsburg’s captain played his 450th game for the club in last week’s 3-1 victory in Heidenheim.Mainz regained control, but they couldn’t create a big chance until Nadiem Amiri’s effort twenty minutes from time. Five minutes later, Zentner made a big save on his 200th Bundesliga appearance after a great linkup between substitutes Mohamed Amoura and Mattias Svanberg.

Mainz’s best chance of the game came after that when Dominik Kohr’s header hit the woodwork. Armindo Sieb was the next to test Grabara before Zentner was involved in a rare situation of fighting for the ball with Amoura outside his box.

The visitors finally found their way to equalize before the 11 minutes of added time. Amiri slots home a penalty-kick after a handball spotted by the VAR. Mainz even had a great opportunity to win it when Sieb’s ferocious shot was denied by the crossbar.

There was still time for Svanberg to get sent off after two bookings. Wolfsburg's winless streak at home extended to nine games, while Mainz collected their first point of the season.