Promotion contender Fortuna Düsseldorf started the second division season with a hard-fought victory.
The two-time cup winner won 2-1 (1-0) against the desperately running promoted 1. FC Magdeburg on Saturday evening.
Rouwen Hennings (44′, hand penalty) and Felix Klaus (46′) scored for coach Daniel Thioune’s team when Connor Krempicki (50′) conceded a goal.
In front of 22,288 enthusiastic spectators, Magdeburg was the better team with the better chances in the first half, Baris Atik and Tatsuya Ito made the Düsseldorf defense shake.
Then referee Arne Aarnink had already decided on a penalty for the guests – but in the run-up there was an offside position, which was resolved by video evidence.
Fortuna mostly played with little pressure without their best offensive man of the previous season. After a long fuss, Khaled Narey said goodbye to the fans via Instagram shortly before kick-off, he will switch to PAOK Saloniki.
Then there was a penalty after FCM defender Jamie Lawrence played the ball with his hand.
Dusseldorf too ripped off
Seconds after the restart, the guests increased after Jamie Lawrence lost the ball. After that, Magdeburg seemed quite unsure, but then the blue and white struck back: Krempicki had a lot of space and hit the right angle, which is worth seeing.
After that, both teams played an open game, but the really big chances were still missing. Magdeburg lacked the penetrating power, in addition there were the two individual mistakes by Lawrence, which Düsseldorf knew how to rip off.