Mateta hat trick gives Mainz 1st Bundesliga win of season

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a hat trick Sunday to lead Mainz to its first Bundesliga win of the season with a 3-1 victory at Freiburg.

The French striker got the visitors off to a flying start in the second minute, grabbed his second goal in the 34th, and his third in the 40th, as Freiburg endured a first half to forget against what was the league’s bottom team.

Freiburg captain Nils Petersen pulled one back in the 63rd but Mainz held on for its first win under new coach Jan-Moritz Lichte at the sixth attempt.

Mainz's Jean-Philippe Mateta, right, celebrates scoring with teammate Jean-Paul Boetius during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and FSV Mainz 05 in Freiburg, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (Sebastian Gollnowdpa via AP)

Mainz’s win leaves Schalke bottom after the eighth round.

Winless Cologne plays Union Berlin later Sunday.

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Mainz's Jean-Philippe Mateta scores past Freiburg's Florian Muller during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and FSV Mainz 05 in Freiburg, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (Sebastian Gollnowdpa via AP)

Mainz's Jean-Philippe Mateta on the way to score the opening goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and FSV Mainz 05 in Freiburg, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (Sebastian Gollnowdpa via AP)

Mainz' Jerry St. Juste, left, and Freiburgs Lucas Hoeler head for the ball, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and FSV Mainz 05 in Freiburg, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (Sebastian Gollnowdpa via AP)

Freiburg's Roland Sallai, left, battles for the ball with Leandro Barreiro from Mainz during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and FSV Mainz 05 in Freiburg, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (Sebastian Gollnowdpa via AP)