Bundesliga
Mainz secured their first win of the season with an emphatic 4-1 victory at Augsburg, with Kaishu Sano scoring once and creating another, despite Dominik Kohr's red card.
Augsburg 1-4 MainzGoals: 0-1 Sano 14', 0-2 Kohr 26', 0-3 Nebel 60' (assist: Sano), 0-4 Sieb 69' (assist: Hanche-Olsen), 1-4 Essende 83'Red card: Kohr 53'
After collecting just one point from their opening three matches, Mainz were desperate for a change in fortunes. Their first victory of the season couldn't have been more emphatic, as the 05ers side put four past Augsburg despite playing nearly half the match with 10 men.
Bo Henriksen had promised an attacking approach before the match, saying: "We'll try again to be attacking, to score goals and get the most out of the game." His team certainly delivered on that promise, while Sandro Wagner's Augsburg suffered their third consecutive defeat following their opening day victory over Freiburg.
The match started evenly with both sides battling for control in midfield, but it was Sano who broke the deadlock in the 14th minute. The Japanese midfielder pounced on a loose ball after a mistake by Chrislain Matsima, drove forward and fired a precise left-footed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.
Augsburg tried to respond quickly, with Alexis Claude-Maurice attempting a spectacular bicycle kick that required a good save from Robin Zentner. However, it was Mainz who struck again in the 26th minute when Kohr doubled their lead. After Mainz won the ball high up the pitch, the defender showed great composure to dance around Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and fire through Finn Dahmen's legs.
Wagner made four changes at half-time in an attempt to get Augsburg back into the match, and his plans received a boost when Kohr was sent off in the 53rd minute after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Han-Noah Massengo. It was the eighth red card of his Bundesliga career, equalling the record held by Luiz Gustavo and Jens Nowotny.
However, being reduced to 10 men didn't deter Mainz, who incredibly extended their lead further in the 60th minute. Sano turned architect, winning the ball in his own half before sprinting down the right wing and squaring for Paul Nebel to tap into an empty net.
Augsburg did create opportunities to get back into the game, with Keven Schlotterbeck hitting the crossbar from a corner and Samuel Essende forcing an excellent save from Zentner. However, it was Mainz's clinical finishing that was on display again in the 69th minute when Armindo Sieb made it 4-0, hammering home after more good work from the outstanding Sano.
Essende did manage to pull one back for the hosts in the 83rd minute with a powerful finish past Zentner, but it was far too little, too late for an Augsburg side that had been comprehensively outplayed despite enjoying 60 percent possession and taking more shots than their opponents.
Sano delivered a performance to remember at the WWK-Arena, scoring his first-ever Bundesliga goal and creating two more in a dominant display. The Japanese midfielder was at the heart of everything positive for Mainz, demonstrating exceptional awareness to pounce on loose balls and incredible energy to drive his team forward.
Even after Mainz were reduced to 10 men, Sano's lung-busting run from his own half set up Nebel's goal, before his intelligent movement and precise pass created the fourth for Sieb. With 14 successful duels won (the most of any Mainz player) and the highest fantasy manager points score (450), Sano was the clear standout performer in a comprehensive away victory.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Augsburg 1.6 - Mainz 2.89
Fastest player: Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (Augsburg), 33.46 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-4 by Samuel Essende (Augsburg), 5.5 per cent
Most pressed player: Paul Nebel (Mainz), 30 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Paul Nebel (Mainz), +4.63
Fantasy Heroes: Kaishu Sano (Mainz, 450 Points), Paul Nebel (Mainz, 278 Points), Samuel Essende (Augsburg, 223 Points)