Dreams Come True Lee Jae-sung, 33, made his debut goal in the European competition...It's easier to head with your forehead even with facial injuries →

Aug 29, 2025

Dreams Come True Lee Jae-sung, 33, made his debut goal in the European competition...It's easier to head with your forehead even with facial injuries →
Source=Minutes SNS Capture



Dreams Come True Lee Jae-sung, 33, made his debut goal in the European competition...It's easier to head with your forehead even with facial injuries →
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Dreams Come True Lee Jae-sung, 33, made his debut goal in the European competition...It's easier to head with your forehead even with facial injuries →
EPAYonhap News
Little Lee Jae-sung's long-cherished dream has become a reality.

Korean midfielder Lee Jae-sung (33, Mainz) led his team's 4-1 victory with a one-man show that directly or indirectly involved in three goals, including the winning goal, in the second round of the European Europa Conference League (UECL) playoffs in 2025-2026 season against Rosenborg (Norway) at MEWA Arena in Mainz, Germany on the 29th (Korea time).

Mainz, who lost 1-2 on the road in the first round of the playoffs and needed a victory on the day, succeeded in advancing to the UECL finals (league phase) by reversing the game with a combined score of 5-3. It is the first time in nine years that Mainz has reached the European club competition finals since the 2016-2017 season when he participated in the Europa League.




Lee Jae-sung, who made his professional debut at Jeonbuk Hyundai and entered the European stage in 2018 by joining Germany's second division Holstein Kiel, scored his debut goal in two games after 11 years of professional career. After the game, Lee Jae-sung said, "I am grateful that I can take the stage in the European competition. There is a saying that experience is wealth, and it is an honor to have such a precious experience. "It may be physically difficult, but I am happy to think about what I will enjoy in various countries. I want to enjoy this opportunity to my heart's content."

Lee Jae-sung's forehead, who started as a left striker, shone from the first half. In the 28th minute of the first half, the opposing goalkeeper hit Lee Jae-sung's header, and Stefan Bell scored the first goal.

Dreams Come True Lee Jae-sung, 33, made his debut goal in the European competition...It's easier to head with your forehead even with facial injuries →
EPAYonhap News
Dreams Come True Lee Jae-sung, 33, made his debut goal in the European competition...It's easier to head with your forehead even with facial injuries →
EPAYonhap News
Mainz gave Dino Islamovic an equalizer in the 33rd minute, giving him a 2–3 lead on aggregate. At a time when the goal was needed, troubleshooter Lee Jae-sung stepped up. In the 43rd minute, wing-back Antony Casi ran home a cross from the right into the gate and pushed it to the header. The ball that hit Lee Jae-sung's forehead hit the left corner of the goal. A scene that shows Lee Jae-sung's header skills recently 'More goals scored with a header than with a foot'

Lee Jae-sung, who injured his cheekbone by hitting his face against the post during the pre-season, said "Thankfully, it was okay because the injured part didn't hit the header. Heather is not afraid or afraid. It was easier to score goals with a header, so I wanted more balls to come with my head. I scored with a header yesterday in training, and I'm quite happy to score in this game as well."

A goal from Lee Jae-sung allowed Mainz to take the lead again, and a goal from Nelsson Viper in the 44th minute, one minute later. Nadhim Amiri on the right poked a cross from the right toward the gate. Lee Jae-sung, who went out to meet him, pretended to touch the ball, opened his legs, and slipped sensibly. Rosenborg defenders froze for a moment. Nelson Viper, who was at the back, hit the net with a right foot volley in a de facto no-mark.

Dreams Come True Lee Jae-sung, 33, made his debut goal in the European competition...It's easier to head with your forehead even with facial injuries →
Source=Minutes SNS Capture
Dreams Come True Lee Jae-sung, 33, made his debut goal in the European competition...It's easier to head with your forehead even with facial injuries →
Source=Minutes SNS Capture
Dreams Come True Lee Jae-sung, 33, made his debut goal in the European competition...It's easier to head with your forehead even with facial injuries →
Source=Minutes SNS Capture
Mainz, who led 3-1 in the first half, sealed the scoring with an additional goal by Amiri in the 12th minute of the second half. Lee Jae-sung was replaced by Leonard Maloney in the 45th minute of the second half before Mainz confirmed a 4-1 victory and stepped down to the bench. In 90 minutes, Lee Jae-sung recorded three shots (two effective shots), two chances, two tackle successes, three ground-contention successes, and two aerial ball competitions, ranking second (7.8 points) in the team.

UECL Port 3 Mainz are likely to meet with European big league clubs such as Crystal Palace, Fiorentina, Rayo Bayecano and Strasbourg in the league phase. Palace is known to be a club that has consistently shown interest in Lee Jae-sung.

Lee Jae-sung will play an away match against Wolfsburg in the second round of the German Bundesliga on the 31st and go on an away trip to the U.S. to play in the national team. Lee Jae-sung, who will join the A-match Century Club (100 games) if he plays in both consecutive games against the U.S. on the 7th and Mexico on the 10th, said "There is less than a year left until the World Cup finals." The game played in every convocation is really important. We can check our competitiveness in the match against the opponent we can meet at the World Cup. We need to prepare well based on thisIt's too early to say the Century Club. I'll try to play one game, and I'd like to talk about Century Club after that."



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.