Bebou seals narrow Hoffenheim win over struggling Mainz

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FSV Mainz 05 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Opel Arena, Mainz, Germany - May 30, 2020 Hoffenheim's Robert Skov in action with Mainz's Pierre Malong, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sascha Steinbach/Pool via REUTERS

Hoffenheim substitute Ihlas Bebou scored with almost his first touch as they beat Bundesliga strugglers Mainz 1-0 away on Saturday to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football next season.

Bebou came on in the 38th minute for the injured Jacob Bruun Larsen and slotted home four minutes later against the run of play after collecting Diadie Samassekou's ball over the top of the Mainz midfield.

Victory drew Hoffenheim level on 42 points with VfL Wolfsburg, but kept them seventh in the Bundesliga on goal difference, while Mainz stayed in 15th place, a point above the bottom three, after their fifth game in a row without victory.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FSV Mainz 05 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Opel Arena, Mainz, Germany - May 30, 2020 Mainz's Robin Quaison and Karim Onisiwo in action with Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sascha Steinbach/Pool via REUTERS

The visitors also had a first-half penalty when Christoph Baumgartner was brought down in the Mainz box, but keeper Florian Mueller got down well to deny Steven Zuber from the spot.

Mainz had several chances to take the lead in the first half and Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann had to be quick out of his box to clear inches ahead of Robin Quaison after the forward was released through the middle by Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 21st minute.

Baumann palmed away another Quaison effort following a corner a few minutes later and Hoffenheim were fortunate not to concede after the 26-year-old Swede rattled the inside of the post from a free kick seven minutes after Zuber's penalty miss.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FSV Mainz 05 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Opel Arena, Mainz, Germany - May 30, 2020 Mainz's Moussa Niakhate in action with Hoffenheim's Robert Skov, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sascha Steinbach/Pool via REUTERS

The home team put the ball in the back of the net in the 60th minute, but Taiwo Awoniyi's effort was ruled out after team mate Karim Onisiwo was adjudged to have blocked off Baumann.

Awoniyi felt he should have won a penalty minutes later when Baumann bundled him over in the box, but the referee turned a deaf ear to his pleas.

Mueller did well to deny Maximilian Beier late in the second half and stop Hoffenheim extending their lead, while at the other end Ridle Baku's powerful strike in stoppage time was deflected over the bar as Mainz slumped to a dispiriting defeat.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FSV Mainz 05 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Opel Arena, Mainz, Germany - May 30, 2020 Mainz's Taiwo Awoniyi in action with Hoffenheim's Kevin Akpoguma, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sascha Steinbach/Pool via REUTERS

(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FSV Mainz 05 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Opel Arena, Mainz, Germany - May 30, 2020 Mainz's Jeffrey Bruma in action with Hoffenheim's Munas Dabbur, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sascha Steinbach/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FSV Mainz 05 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Opel Arena, Mainz, Germany - May 30, 2020 Mainz's Florian Mueller in action, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sascha Steinbach/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FSV Mainz 05 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Opel Arena, Mainz, Germany - May 30, 2020 Mainz's Ridle Baku in action with Hoffenheim's Ihlas Bebou, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sascha Steinbach/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FSV Mainz 05 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Opel Arena, Mainz, Germany - May 30, 2020 Mainz's Robin Quaison shoots at goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sascha Steinbach/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FSV Mainz 05 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Opel Arena, Mainz, Germany - May 30, 2020 Mainz's Robin Quaison in action with Hoffenheim's Sebastian Rudy, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sascha Steinbach/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FSV Mainz 05 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Opel Arena, Mainz, Germany - May 30, 2020 Mainz's Taiwo Awoniyi in action with Hoffenheim's Diadie Samassekou, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sascha Steinbach/Pool via REUTERS