Burkardt inspires Mainz to much-needed win over Augsburg

Germany U21 striker Jonathan Burkardt scored two and made another as Mainz ended a three-game losing run with a commanding 4-1 home win over lowly Augsburg.

Mainz were all over Augsburg like a rash at the Mewa Arena, with Rafal Gikiewicz thwarting Burkardt and scrambling clear a deflection Reece Oxford knew nothing about inside five minutes. The opener arrived soon after when Karim Onisiwo slotted home Silvan Widmer’s cross.

Burkardt set up Stefan Bell for a cool finish five minutes later, before getting in on the act himself with a towering header from Onisiwo’s inch-perfect delivery. The same duo combined again late in a one-sided first half, but Gikiewicz made the stop.

Mainz continued to cause Augsburg problems as Onisiwo tore away and dragged wide early in the second half. Ruben Vargas fired over from the edge of the area with Augsburg’s first meaningful opening of note, before Daniel Caligiuri whipped a speculative effort wide.

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Substitute Andi Zeqiri managed to reduce the arrears with a smart first-time finish, but Mainz needed just 12 seconds to quash any hopes Augsburg had of staging a comeback.

Burkardt smashed in Onisiwo’s lay-off to complete his brace, and cap a superb individual display in front of watching Germany boss Hansi Flick.