Julian Ryerson delivered a stunning first-half display, setting up three goals as Borussia Dortmund cruised to a 4–0 victory over Mainz 05 to close the gap on leaders Bayern Munich.
Dortmund moved within three points of Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga after a dominant Friday night performance at Signal Iduna Park.
Serhou Guirassy scored twice, while Maximilian Beier added a close-range header, with all three goals coming before the break and each assisted by Ryerson.
The hosts struck early, taking the lead after just 10 minutes. Guirassy rose highest to meet Ryerson’s dangerous free-kick and powered a header past goalkeeper Daniel Batz.
Five minutes later, the advantage doubled. Ryerson collected the ball on the right flank and delivered a looping cross to the far post, where Beier nodded home unmarked.
Mainz had a chance to respond, but Silas Mvumpa curled a one-on-one effort wide of the post.
The miss proved costly, as Guirassy soon added his second, heading in from a Ryerson corner shortly before half-time.
The visitors thought they had pulled one back through captain Silvan Widmer, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Guirassy also came close to a hat-trick, only to head another Ryerson delivery just wide.
Dortmund sealed the win late on when Dominik Kohr turned the ball into his own net in the 84th minute after Ramy Bensebaini flicked on yet another Ryerson corner.
Ryerson’s performance made history, as he became the first Dortmund player since detailed Bundesliga data collection began in 2004–05 to record three assists in the first half of a match.
The wing-back created four chances overall and delivered 16 crosses, more than the entire Mainz team, who managed 10.
Despite Mainz generating 1.43 expected goals from nine attempts, Dortmund proved more clinical, producing 1.74 xG from 14 shots to secure a convincing victory.
