It was the day of Lee Jae-sung (31, FSV Mainz 05).
FSV Mainz 05 beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 in the 33rd round of the German Bundesliga in the 2023-24 season at Mainz MEWA Arena in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, at 1:30 a.m. on May 12.
Lee Jae-sung started as a left attacking midfielder. Lee Jae-sung moved back and forth between the public and the public with a brisk activity. In the event of an attack, he quickly penetrated into the opponent's penalty box and aimed for a score.
Lee Jae-sung flashed in the 19th minute of the first half when Mainz led 1-0.
Lee Jae-sung intercepted a short ball connected by goalkeeper Dortmund Alexander Mayer with quick pressure. Lee Jae-sung did not hesitate to shoot and hit the net.
Lee Jae-sung shook Dortmund's net again four minutes later. Lee Jae-sung pushed the ball slightly given by Leandro Barreiro with his left foot.
Lee Jae-sung showed a constant movement even with a 3-0 lead.
In the event of an attack, he penetrated the gate before anyone else and aimed for a score. He also created a shooting opportunity for his teammates with a quick pass. In defense, he contributed to the team's scoreless victory by showing off his strong pressure and tackle ability to touch only the ball.
Lee Jae-sung scored two goals, three key passes, three successful tackles, and three interceptions while playing on the ground for 87 minutes. He showed perfect performance in both ball and water.
The English soccer statistics site Huskyd.COM gave Lee a 9.1 rating. It was the second highest rating after Barreiro, who scored one goal and one assist.
Another soccer statistics site, Sofa Score, also gave Lee Jae-sung 9.0 points and Barreiro 9.2 points.
Mainz, thanks to Lee Jae-sung's strong performance, succeeded in escaping the relegation zone.
Mainz has six wins, 14 draws and 13 losses (32 points) with one game left in the Bundesliga this season. It is ranked 15th out of 18 Bundesliga clubs. Mainz's victory over Dortmund, which succeeded in advancing to the UEFA Champions League (UCL) finals this season, widened its point gap with Union Berlin, ranked 16th, to two points.
In the Bundesliga, 17th and 18th places will be demoted. The 16th place must play a playoff against the third-place team in the 2. Bundesliga (part 2). Mainz were 16th before their showdown with Dortmund.
Mainz will wrap up their Bundesliga schedule for the 2023-24 season with a away game from Vfl Wolfsburg on May 18. Mainz leads Berlin by 11 points in goal difference. Mainz is very likely to confirm its stay even if it draws in the final match of this season.
Lee Jae-sung has six goals and three assists in 28 Bundesliga games this season. He is the second-leading scorer in the team and tied for first in assistance.
Lee Jae-sung will achieve double-digit attack points for the second consecutive season if he adds one more attack point.
I wonder if Lee Jae-sung will be able to play the role of the team's ace in the final game of the season against Wolfsburg.
Lee Geun-seung, reporter for MK Sports.
