BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen’s Alejandro Grimaldo scored twice in the first half to guide them to a 4-3 victory in a thrilling clash at Mainz 05 on Saturday, stretching their record unbeaten run on the road in the Bundesliga.
Leverkusen, who host European champions Paris St. Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, moved up to 14 points in fifth place with their third straight league win while also extending their unbeaten league record to 37 consecutive away matches.
Spain international Grimaldo opened their account with an 11th-minute penalty before teenager Christian Kofane doubled the lead 13 minutes later, capping off a dominant opening spell.
Mainz briefly cut the deficit through Lee Jane-sung in the 34th but Grimaldo punished the hosts for two consecutive defensive errors in first-half stoppage time to slot in and restore their two-goal cushion.
In a topsy-turvy second half the hosts hit the post and earned a 71st minute penalty, with Nadiem Amiri putting them back in the game from the spot, but the visitors struck again with Martin Terrier slotting in from seven meters in the 87th.
Mainz still had time to score another goal — in the 90th minute through Armindo Sieb — but could not find the equalizer in 10 minutes of added time.
Despite scoring their first goals in a home game this season, Mainz, stuck in 16th, have now failed to win at home for a ninth straight league game, equalling the club’s record for the longest stretch without a victory at their ground.
Grimaldo helps Leverkusen win 4-3 at Mainz to stretch record unbeaten away run
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Grimaldo helps Leverkusen win 4-3 at Mainz to stretch record unbeaten away run
- Leverkusen moved up to 14 points in fifth place with their third straight league win
- Spain international Grimaldo opened their account with an 11th-minute penalty
Colombia’s Rodriguez signs for Minnesota on short-term deal
- Rodriguez will occupy an international squad spot pending a medical and receipt of his visa.
- “We’re excited to add his creativity and football intelligence to our group,” El-Ahmad said
MINNESOTA: Colombia captain James Rodriguez signed for Minnesota United on Friday, marking his seventh club since leaving Real Madrid in 2020 as the former World Cup Golden Boot winner continues his globe-trotting career.
The Major League Soccer club announced that the 34-year-old midfielder has signed a guaranteed contract through June 2026, with a club option to extend until December 2026.
Rodriguez will occupy an international squad spot pending a medical and receipt of his visa.
“James is a player whose quality, vision, and experience at the highest levels of the game are unquestioned. We’re excited to add his creativity and football intelligence to our group,” the club’s sporting director Khaled El-Ahmad said in a statement.
“At the same time, this move is about collective strength — not about putting everything on one individual.”
Rodriguez, who won the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup in a breakthrough tournament that earned him a move to Real Madrid, has become something of a footballing nomad in recent years.
Since the 2019-20 campaign, the playmaker has plied his trade across continents for Everton, Al-Rayyan, Olympiacos, Sao Paulo, Rayo Vallecano and Leon before landing in Minnesota.
“I’m very happy for this new chapter in my life. I hope to be at my best so I can bring joy to this city and to all of the people who are putting their faith in me,” Rodriguez said.
“I’m looking forward to meeting all of the passionate Minnesota fans because I’m also a passionate player who wants to give everything on the field and always wants to win.”
Rodriguez will get his first chance to impress when the new MLS season kicks off on February 21, with Minnesota taking on Austin.
