Jadon Sancho: Borussia Dortmund's record-breaker and Matchday 29's Man of the Matchday
Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho's match-winning brace against Mainz only earned the Westphalians top spot for a night, but the Matchday 29 Man of the Matchday's goals could prove crucial when the points are tallied at the end of the season.
The 19-year-old's brace – which took him to 10 goals in 2018/19, thereby making him the youngest player in the club's history to reach double figures in a single season – bumped Dortmund two points ahead of Niko Kovac's side on Saturday night in a title race which promises plenty more twists and turns as it goes down to the wire.
"We're happy to be back at the top of the table," Sancho told bundesliga.com after the final whistle at the Signal Iduna Park, adding that he was "definitely going to watch" Bayern's response, although it proved not to be exactly what he had hoped for.
Nevertheless, in one of the tightest title races in recent years. Sancho's first-half double ensured Lucien Favre's charges are still in the hunt at the top in the wake of their demoralising Klassiker defeat away to Bayern last week, although Mainz did not let them have things all their own way.
The 05ers were on top for much of the second half and set up a nail-biting finale when Robin Quaison pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute. Mainz very nearly snatched a draw in the closing stages and Dortmund had goalkeeper Roman Bürki to thank for the win following an incredible string of quickfire saves during a goalmouth scramble after a corner.
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"The first half was very good and we got the two goals," Sancho said. "In the second half we needed to keep the same character as we did in the first. We need to work on that during the week in training and show better character. I felt like we were forcing the play a lot when we had the ball. In those situations we need to keep calm and relaxed.
"I don't think it's a question of maturity," he continued. "It's excitement. When we get the ball we just want to score goals and make the fans proud. We need to work on that."
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