Koreans in Europe: Lee Jae-sung leads Mainz to first win of season

Lee Jae-sung scored his second goal of the season to lead Mainz to their first Bundesliga win of the campaign on Saturday, heading in a late opener in the 76th minute to kick off a 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig.

Mainz's Lee Jae-sung celebrates after scoring during a Bundesliga match against RB Leipzig at the Mewa Stadium in Mainz, Germany on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]

Lee Jae-sung scored his second goal of the season to lead Mainz to their first Bundesliga win of the campaign on Saturday, heading in a late opener in the 76th minute to kick off a 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig.

Lee’s goal was followed by a second from Leandro Barreiro four minutes later, ending a winless run that has seen Mainz drop deep into relegation territory with just three draws and nine losses before Saturday’s game.

Leipzig, meanwhile, sit near the top of the table with six wins, two draws and only one loss before Saturday, making it a promising victory for a Mainz squad that have really struggled to find direction this season.

The goal was Lee’s second of the season, his first having come against Eintracht Frankfurt back in August.

Lee is a veteran midfielder and regular starter with the Bundesliga club, signing a new contract over the summer that could see him remain in Mainz until 2026. He played 34 league games during the 2022-23 season and picked up seven goals and four assists — the most goal contributions during his Bundesliga career.

Lee’s relationship with Mainz and the fans was clearly on display on Saturday. After the game, Lee was seen climbing into the stands to celebrate with the club’s fans, leading a section of the club’s Ultras in a chant in a video posted on the official Mainz 05 X, formerly Twitter, account.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]