Magdeburg celebrates end of season with 4:2 against Düsseldorf

1. FC Magdeburg recorded a clear home win in their final game of the season. The FCM won 4:2 (0:1) against Fortuna Düsseldorf. Jean Hugonet (48), Xavier Amaechi (60), Alexander Nollenberger (73) and Martijn Kaars (90+2) scored for FCM, Matthias Zimmermann (19) and Isak Johannesson (81) for the visitors. In the end, FCM enjoyed a record-breaking season in the 2nd Bundesliga: 53 points and 64 goals are a new record, as is fifth place in the table.

Compared to the defeat in Paderborn, Livan Burcu and Abu-Bekir El-Zein moved into Magdeburg's starting line-up. FCM wanted to put pressure on the visitors immediately through their quick wingers, but were thwarted by their attentive defense. They largely waited behind the halfway line for Magdeburg's attacks and only ventured forward for the first time after a good ten minutes.

Düsseldorf scored with their first chance

Neither side created any goalscoring opportunities for a long time, but then the visitors scored with their first shot. Zimmermann made it 1:0 after a somewhat fortunate combination from the edge of the box. Magdeburg continued to make an effort, but too often made the wrong decisions in the final third. Burcu's shot across goal (26') remained the hosts' most dangerous action. Düsseldorf, on the other hand, should have increased their lead, but two free headers went over the bar. FCM only came back into the game in stoppage time, when Baris Atik's shot was saved by the visitors' goalkeeper and Amaechi's follow-up was blocked (45.+1).

Hugonet headed the first corner of the game into the net to equalize. The Düsseldorf defense had previously left him criminally unmarked. This quickly revived the game, also because FCM now generated more pressure: Marcus Mathisen (51) and Atik (52) followed up. Düsseldorf were now higher up the pitch and Magdeburg were often forced to bridge the midfield.

Magdeburg turned the game around in twelve minutes

The game became more open as Düsseldorf were given space to counter, but FCM scored: Giovanni Haag deflected a shot from Amaechi unstoppably to give Magdeburg the lead. FCM did not retreat after the opening goal, but kept moving forward and were in control of the game. Nollenberger finished off a Magdeburg counter-attack to make it 3:1, but even that did not decide the game. After a mistake by Silas Gnaka, Johannesson reduced the deficit once more, but Kaars put the finishing touches on the game with his 19th goal of the season.