Mainka leads by example as Heidenheim beat Pafos

A first European trip abroad for FC Heidenheim pointed them in the direction of Cypriot outfit FC Pafos. Frank Schmidt’s men ran out 1-0 winners thanks to Patrick Mainka’s first-half strike.

The game sprang to life after 10 cautious minutes as both teams felt eachother out. Brazilian duo Jaja and Jairo da Silva linked up allowing the latter to blaze over Müller’s bar. Heidenheim spurned half-chances of their own as Beck and Kaufmann failed to beat Ivusić between the Pafos posts who made two comfortable saves on separate occasions.

However, it wasn’t long before the Croatian shot-stopper had to stoop and pick the ball out of his own net – Kaufmann fed Conteh who crossed low for the advancing skipper Patrick Mainka to steer home. Pafos sought parity minutes later with another significant break up field. Ex-Hertha misfielder Sunjić released Joao Correia down the right flank. The Cape Verde centre-half’s cross was met by Dragomir who sent his effort past the front post.

Jairo da Silva led the charge for the Cypriot club upon the resumption of the game. First, the Brazilian sent a glancing header wide while Müller managed to parry a second drive from the left-hand side of the box minutes later. Schöppner and Föhrenbach were introduced by Schmidt to reinvigorate his side. Siersleben managed to force a save from Ivusić as the clock ticked towards the hour. 

With time running out for the hosts, substitutes arrived en masse. Once again, Sunjić popped up on the end of a corner but the 28-year-old Croatian failed to steer his header on target. I’m a bid to hold what they had, Schmidt called upon Omar Traoré to bolster the defence in place of Conteh. Five minutes of injury time carefully managed as Heidenheim make it two wins on the bounce in their maiden European odyssey.