Lee Jae-sung sets career high in assists as Mainz targets European competition

Lee Jae-sung (33, Mainz) recorded his seventh assist in the league, breaking his career high again and maintaining hope for the European stage.

Mainz defeated VfL Bochum 4-1 in the 33rd round away match of the 2024-2025 season of the German Bundesliga, held on the 10th (Korea time) at the Bonovia Ruhrstadion in Bochum, Germany. With this victory, Mainz ended a long slump by winning after eight league matches, jumping to 6th place in the standings with 51 points.

However, at the same time, fourth-place Freiburg also won, recording 55 points and keeping a 4-point lead over Mainz. Now, even if Mainz wins the final match of the season, they will not be able to catch up with Freiburg, thus failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) for the first time since its establishment in 1905.

But it is too early to be disappointed. Mainz is engaged in a fierce competition for European qualification with fifth-place Borussia Dortmund and seventh-place RB Leipzig (both with 51 points). The Bundesliga sends the fifth-place team to the next season's UEFA Europa League (UEL) and the sixth-place team to the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL).

Mainz must fend off the challenge from Leipzig to hold onto sixth place. If Dortmund slips up, they could also eye a UEL spot. However, Mainz's final opponent is second-place Bayer Leverkusen, making it a tough battle. The last match of the season for both teams will take place on the 17th.

Desperate for a win, Mainz pressed against the Bochum goal from the start, but their finishing lacked precision. In the 8th minute, Mbeumo aimed for the goal with a right-footed shot, but Bochum's defense cleared it with a header. In the 42nd minute, in a chaotic situation, Burkhardt's shot deflected off Lee Jae-sung's foot. The follow-up shot from Burkhardt was also blocked by the defense.

In stoppage time of the first half, Mainz finally broke the deadlock. Amiri, taking a free kick, scored with a fantastic right-footed curling shot. The ball went slightly over the defensive wall and beautifully curved into the goal. At halftime, Mainz led 1-0.

Lee Jae-sung contributed to Mainz's second goal. In the 53rd minute, he received a throw-in from a teammate and delivered an accurate pass to Mbeumo, who was rushing in from the opposite side. Mbeumo calmly finished it, making it 2-0. With this assist, Lee Jae-sung achieved 7 goals and 7 assists for the season, setting another career-high record.

Lee Jae-sung was substituted for Hong Hyun-seok. Coach Henriksen called Lee Jae-sung and Mbeumo off in the 62nd minute, bringing in Hong Hyun-seok and Zilvan Bidmer. Lee Jae-sung concluded his duties somewhat early, ending with one assist.

Mainz put the match beyond doubt. Hong Hyun-seok played a key role. In the 73rd minute, he intercepted a ball in the Chonbang and quickly passed it to Burkhardt. Subsequently, Burkhardt exchanged quick one-twos with Nebel before scoring with a right-footed shot. In the 78th minute, Hong Hyun-seok made a sharp cutback pass to Burkhardt after escaping to the right side of the box, but it did not lead to a goal.

There was no reversal. Mainz conceded a goal to Gerrit Holtmann in the 84th minute, but in stoppage time, Nebel's goal completed the 4-1 victory. The Mainz players roared after achieving their first win in over two months since their victory against Borussia Mönchengladbach in early March, while the Bochum players, who were confirmed to be relegated at home, hung their heads.

Despite this victory, Mainz and Lee Jae-sung's hopes for UCL qualification were dashed. However, depending on the results of the remaining matches, they are still in a position to aim for the Europa League. The points are tied, and the results will depend on the goal difference, making the outcome of the final match crucial. It remains to be seen whether Lee Jae-sung and Hong Hyun-seok will return smiling after qualifying for the European stage.

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