Pantovic brace guides Bochum past Mainz into Pokal quarter-finals
The Serbian midfielder was the hero again for Bochum, as Reis' side have too much for Bo Svensson's Mainz.
| Thomas Reis. |
While Bochum held the majority of possession in the first half, it was the visitors, Mainz, who drew first blood on 36 minutes. Anton Stach’s 25-yard strike, which sailed through a sea of bodies on the way, was too hot for Manuel Riemann to handle in goal. The Bochum goalkeeper could only parry the fierce shot, and Onisiwo reacted snappily to strike the ball home before Riemann could regather.
New signing, Locadia, almost drew his side level less than 10 minutes into the second half. The Dutch striker pounced on Bell’s loose touch, cut inside, and unleashed a strike which Zentner managed to force out for a corner. Moments later, Bochum won a penalty at the expense of Barreiro for pulling Osterhage’s jersey. Pantovic stepped up to blast the ball down the centre and tied it up 1-1.
The home team then found themselves 2-1 only moments later in the 58th minute. Pantovic the hero again, after being fed the ball by Holtmann, the Serbian showed exceptional composure to lift the ball over the onrushing Zentner from the edge of the box.
Reis’ charges seemed to bag the insurance goal in the 80th minute through Lowen. The midfielder gave his side a two-goal lead when he arrived late in the box to smash home from close range after getting on the end of Poulter’s cross from the left flank.
Bochum could have made it 4-1 with late chances for Poulter and Asano respectively, but they had no need to worry as the damage was already done prior to that. Mainz exit the competition for another season, as Bochum advance as one of the final 8 teams remaining in the competition.