Lee Jae-sung, a South Korean national team midfielder playing for Mainz in Germany's Bundesliga, scored his first goal of the season, but the effort was overshadowed by his team's defeat.
Lee started in the home match against Werder Bremen in the seventh round of the 2026-2027 Bundesliga season at Mewa Arena in Mainz, Germany, on the 24th, and scored in the 63rd minute to narrow the deficit with his team trailing 1-3. Anthony Caci delivered a left-footed cross from the right side of the penalty area, and Lee headed it in from the right of the goal.
It was Lee's first goal of the season in league and all official competitions. After recording six goals and four assists in 39 official matches last season, Lee had registered one assist each in the German Cup (DFB-Pokal) and the Bundesliga this season but had not scored until this match.
Lee was substituted off in the 75th minute, replaced by Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer. Mainz failed to score again and lost 2-3 to Bremen.
Mainz ceded the initiative to their opponents from early in the match. Niclas Füllkrug of Bremen converted penalty kicks in the seventh and 25th minutes, putting Mainz two goals behind. Caci's goal in the 33rd minute cut the lead, but Ludovit Reis added another in the 61st minute to restore the two-goal margin. Lee's goal followed, but Mainz could not find another and fell by a single goal.
The defeat left Mainz with a 3-1-3 record and 10 points, seventh among the 18 teams. Bremen moved up to sixth with 12 points on a 3-3-1 record.