Yoshinori Muto (2nd l.) bagged a brace faster than any other Japanese player in the Bundesliga to help Mainz to a 3-0 win against Hannover - © © imago / Jan Huebner
Yoshinori Muto (2nd l.) bagged a brace faster than any other Japanese player in the Bundesliga to help Mainz to a 3-0 win against Hannover - © © imago / Jan Huebner

Mainz new boy Muto at the double to down Hannover

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Mainz - 1. FSV Mainz 05 new boy Yoshinori Muto was at the double as 1. FSV Mainz 05 secured a deserved 3-0 victory at home to Hannover 96.

Man of the Match

Hoping to build on last week's 2-1 success away to Borussia Mönchengladbach, Mainz started confidently, bossing both rhythm and pace, with Muto at the heart of their most promising play. The 23-year-old Japanese summer signing was set up beautifully by Jairo Samperio 15 minutes in, opening the scoring with a cool finish, before nodding home from Stefan Bell's assist to double his side's lead.

The hosts remained the in the driving after the interval, Malli all but sealing victory after rounding Ron-Robert Zieler in the Hannover goal to net Mainz's third. Hannover didn't give in, and Michael Frontzeck's charges throwing men forward trying to find a way back into the game, with Charlison Benschop and Edgar Prib going close. Yet it was Muto who came closest to scoring a fourth at the Coface Arena, seeing a deflected long-range effort sail just wide.

After making his full debut against Gladbach, Muto showed that he's more than just a like-for-like replacement for compatriot Shinji Okazaki. The skilful and industrious frontman was a thorn in the side of the Hannover defence all afternoon and deservedly notched his first ever Bundesliga double.

Stat of the match

Muto bagged a brace faster than any other Japanese player in the Bundesliga, hitting the net twice in only his third appearance in the German top flight, and his second start for Mainz.