Mainz Secures First Win of the Season in 5-Goal Thriller Against Augsburg

Mainz secured its first win of the Bundesliga season in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Augsburg, with both teams reduced to 10 men following red cards on Friday. Phillipp Mwene's crosses from the left were key to Mainz's success, setting up two of the three goals.

The game saw Mainz take the lead in the 13th minute when Armindo Sieb headed in Mwene's cross from the byline. Just two minutes later, Jonathan Burkardt doubled the visitors' advantage, also converting a cross from Mwene.

Augsburg responded in the 25th minute, with Keven Schlotterbeck finding space in the box to score from close range, bringing the home side back into the contest. Mainz suffered a setback shortly after when Nadiem Amiri received two yellow cards in quick succession, in the 33rd and 35th minutes, leaving Mainz a man down for the remainder of the match.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Mainz extended its lead early in the second half. Burkardt scored his second of the match in the 49th minute, making it 3-1. Augsburg's Samuel Essende reduced the deficit in the 59th minute, but his red card for violent conduct just 13 minutes later left both teams with 10 men for the final 20 minutes.

Augsburg pressed for an equalizer in the closing stages but failed to break through, leaving them in 12th place in the table. Mainz's win moves them up to 10th.