Hoping to extend their unbeaten home league record to three matches, the hosts were inches away from taking the lead within the opening two minutes, as Lee Jae-sung’s audacious long-range volley cannoned back off the crossbar.
Separated by only one point in the standings heading into the opening match of the 11th round of Bundesliga matches, Mainz were given a glorious opportunity to take the lead when Matthias Jollenbeck prescribed a penalty after Luca Kilian had brought down Karim Onisiwo.
Netting his third goal in as many matches, Marcus Ingvartsen confidently stepped up to the spot and sent Marvin Schwabe the wrong way, commencing the carnival celebrations in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Continuing to struggle with the energetic final-third endeavours of Onisiwo, Die Geissbocke’s task of climbing the MEWA Arena mountain was made even harder in the 28th minute when captain Kilian was shown a second yellow card for pulling back the Mainz forward.
Now at a numerical disadvantage, the footballing gods dealt Steffen Baumgart’s side another blow seven minutes later when Dominik Kohr slotted past Schwabe from close-range to double the Mainz’s advantage.
Then, with Baumgart desperate to get his side into the dressing room for half time, Mainz mercilessly struck again in the 40th minute when Anton Stach fired a perfectly-executed strike into the bottom left-hand corner past the beleaguered silhouette of Schwabe.
With only pride left to play for, Cologne were close to reducing the deficit in the 58th minute when Florian Kainz’s fearsome free-kick struck the post.
Yet, with the hour-mark fast approaching, Mainz were denied a fourth goal of the evening after VAR ruled out substitute Angelo Fulgini’s strike following the discovery of a handball in the build-up.
Nonetheless, Mainz added another when Aaron Martín curled in an exquisite free-kick and with time running out, Onisiwo condemned Cologne to consecutive away matches where they conceded five goals.
A carnival-like evening for Mainz helps move Bo Svensson's side into the UEFA Champions League qualification positions.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Karim Onisiwo (Mainz)
Check out all the stats from this Bundesliga encounter with Flashscore.
