Christian Rasmussen and Philipp Hofmann gave VfL Bochum a 2-0 win over FSV Mainz 05 in the second round of the DFB-Pokal, with the second-division side finally collecting their first home win of the current season. Rasmussen struck in the 46th minute, Hofmann finished it in the 75th after a cross-field pass from Jarne Steuckers, and Mainz's perfect away run came to an end.
Rasmussen and Hofmann decide it
Bochum did not need long after the break to flip the tie. Rasmussen's opener on 46 minutes gave them the lead, and Hofmann's finish 29 minutes later closed it out.
The two goals were enough on their own, but VfL Bochum vs FSV Mainz 05 was not a passive home win. Timo Horn made five saves, which mattered because Mainz still had moments where they pressed and tested the hosts.
Mainz's away run ends
Urs Fischer said, speaking to SPORT1 in comments translated from German: "Whether at home or away, it is about delivering performances and doing the basics. Especially in the cup against Bochum."
That warning fits the result. Mainz entered the tie seventh in the Bundesliga and had won six away games across seasons before this defeat, but Bochum handled the cup night better and left with the cleaner scoreline.
The bigger takeaway for Bochum is straightforward enough. After waiting through the opening months of the 2026-27 season, they finally have a home win to go with a proper cup result, and Mainz's trip to the Ruhr ended with two goals conceded and no reply.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
