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Jonathan Burkardt celebrates his goal to make it 3-0
Photo: Frey-Pressebild / Deines / imago images / Thomas Frey
The fact that national coach Hansi Flick was spotted in the Mainz stadium on Friday evening came as a surprise.
Not because of the lack of quality of Mainz 05 and FC Augsburg, but rather because Augsburg's Felix Uduokhai, the only player from both teams who is in the extended squad of the national team, was injured.
In the focus of the national coach, the Mainz Jonathan Burkardt should have played at the latest with the 4-1 (3-0) victory.
With two goals (26th minute, 71st) and a great assist, the 21-year-old was the outstanding man.
Karim Onisiwo (10th) and Stefan Bell (15th) scored the other Mainz goals, Andi Zeqiri shortened in the meantime for Augsburg (69th).
However, it was primarily an Augsburg player who started the game in Mainz: Robert Gumny stepped over a flat cross in the tenth minute and left Onisiwo behind him in the penalty area.
It was the unfortunate start to a weak first half of the guests who threatened to slide deep into the relegation battle this season.
Because five minutes later, Burkardt intervened for the first time: At the edge of the penalty area, he claimed the ball with his back to the goal against Reece Oxford and from the turn he fit perfectly into the course of the central defender Bell, who remained in front after a corner kick, who deliberately pushed in in the manner of a top striker ( 15.).
Burkardt with a double pack
Just a few minutes later, Burkardt headed an Onisiwo cross - which also shone in front of Flicks, but is Austrian - for the preliminary decision into the goal (26th).
Even the goal of substitute Andi Zeqiri from Augsburg did not get Mainz out of step (70th), because only two minutes later Burkardt circled a direct decrease from 15 meters into the left corner (72nd).
For Burkardt it was goals three and four in nine league games, he had already scored at Borussia Dortmund last weekend.
The center forward has been one of the hopes for the senior national team's chronically understaffed storm center, at least since the title at the U21 European championship in the summer.
When asked about the presence of the national coach after the game, Burkardt replied at DAZN: "I try to perform on the pitch and what comes will come."
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