1. Lee Jae-sung (33) of FSV 05 Mainz changed the course of the match as soon as he was substituted in the second half, leading his team to victory. He recorded 1 goal and 1 assist during his active play, and Mainz achieved a second consecutive league victory by defeating St. Pauli 2-0, moving up to 5th place.

Lee Jae-sung started on the bench in the home game against St. Pauli in the 23rd round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga, held at Mainz's MEVA Arena on the 22nd at 11:30 p.m. (Korean time).

As the team struggled without scoring in the first half, Mainz opted for an aggressive change right at the start of the second half, substituting Lee Jae-sung in for left winger Nelson Weiper.

The choice paid off immediately. Displaying active movement and adjusting the rhythm of the game, Lee Jae-sung became the hero of the game with the decisive goal in the 67th minute. Nadim Amiri's powerful shot from a distance was barely saved by opposing goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, but the ball dropped right in front of Lee Jae-sung, who quickly rushed in and shook the net with a left-footed shot.

On this day, Lee Jae-sung showcased high scoring efficiency with just one shot to net a goal while maintaining calm play throughout the match. He recorded 11 touches in the opposing Chin Young, demonstrating effective offense despite limited opportunities. Moreover, he exhibited precise game management with no passing errors, achieving a 100% passing accuracy and leading a stable buildup.

Lee Jae-sung's goal marked his 6th goal of the season in the league. After scoring 2 goals against Bayern Munich in December, he found the net again for the first time in two months. With this goal, he is now just one goal away from his personal record for the most goals in a single season (7 goals).

He did not stop there. In stoppage time of the second half, with Mainz leading 1-0, Lee Jae-sung attempted a brilliant through pass near the halfway line. After receiving his pass, Paul Nebel managed to win an aerial ball with his head and attempted a dribble, ultimately scoring an additional goal to seal the victory. This assist marked Lee Jae-sung's 3rd assist of the season in the league.

According to official match records, Lee Jae-sung has recorded 6 goals and 4 assists this season, increasing his attacking points to 10. Including 1 assist recorded in the DFB-Pokal, he has achieved double digits in attacking points across all competitions this season.

Despite playing only 45 minutes, Lee Jae-sung completely changed the flow of the match and received a score of 8.0 from the soccer statistics outlet 'Footmob', the second-highest rating on the team. This was just behind Danny da Costa, who led the defense to a clean sheet with a score of 8.3.

'WhoScored.com' also acknowledged Lee Jae-sung's performance with a score of 7.8. While Da Costa received the highest score on the team at 8.4, Lee Jae-sung was the highest-rated player among the attacking players.

Thanks to Lee Jae-sung's performance, Mainz achieved a second consecutive league victory and accumulated 38 points. With this victory, Mainz jumped to 5th place, increasing their chances of qualifying for European competitions.

Another Korean player from Mainz, Hong Hyun-seok, was included in the substitute list but did not get an opportunity to play in the match.

Meanwhile, in another match held on the same day, Jung Woo-young (24) of Union Berlin started as a right winger against Borussia Dortmund. However, the team suffered a heavy 0-6 loss, and he was substituted in the 72nd minute.

Jung Woo-young has recorded 2 goals and 2 assists in the league this season but could not add to his attacking points in this match. Union Berlin recorded a second consecutive league defeat, remaining at 13th place with 24 points, while Dortmund moved up to 10th place with 32 points.

In this match, Dortmund's striker Serou Guirassy scored 4 goals, leading his team to a commanding victory.

Mainz aims to add points against Bayer Leverkusen in the next round. With Lee Jae-sung maintaining good form recently, his performance in the next match is eagerly anticipated.

Union Berlin will face Freiburg. Attention is focused on whether Jung Woo-young can wash away the disappointment of the loss and add attacking points.

Meanwhile, the competition at the top of the Bundesliga is becoming increasingly intense. There is growing anticipation over whether Mainz can secure a spot in European competitions and whether Lee Jae-sung can set a record for the most goals in a single season.