On February 29, 2025, MSV Duisburg secured a significant 2-0 victory over Fortuna Köln at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, consolidifying their position at the top of the Regionalliga West. With this win, Duisburg extended their lead to six points, much to the delight of the 16,402 fans who came to support the team during the lively Karneval weekend.
The match began with MSV Duisburg demonstrating their intent. After settling down from the initial excitement, it was Alexander Hahn who opened the scoring. Just twelve minutes had passed when he expertly converted a corner taken by Jonas Michelbrink, heading the ball home to give Duisburg the lead, as reported by kicker. The early goal set the tone for the match, signaling Duisburg's determination to maintain their status as league leaders.
Despite falling behind, Fortuna Köln worked hard to find their rhythm, but they struggled to penetrate Duisburg's solid defense. The visitors had their chances; Marvin Mika narrowly missed connecting with a dangerous cross just two meters from the Duisburg goal, adding to the tension on the pitch.
After the initial 1-0 lead, Duisburg continued to press for more goals. Fortuna's goalkeeper Lennart Winkler was forced to make several saves, including one from Maximilian Dittgen, whose shot was parried cleanly after another opportunity arose for the hosts. Duisburg would take their slim lead to halftime, showcasing strong defensive play.
Following the break, Duisburg's momentum seemed to wane momentarily, allowing Fortuna Köln to press for the equalizer. But it was the home side who struck again, creating the second goal. This one came from Patrick Sussek, who found himself charging down the left flank. After slipping past his marker, he shot the ball crisply past Winkler to make it 2-0, sealing the win for Duisburg around the 65-minute mark, as noted by WDR-Sportredaktion.
With the scoreline secure, Duisburg was able to manage the remainder of the game with relative ease. Substitutions came as coach Dietmar Hirsch sought to maintain freshness within his squad. Players like Malek Fakhro and Florian Egerer entered the match to help see it through. Despite some late chances, including one by Luis Hartwig who was thwarted once more by Winkler, Duisburg maintained control and ensured their clean sheet.
The result marked another step toward potential promotion for Duisburg, solidifying their standing at the top of the league with now 53 points gathered over the season. They have shown resilience, managing to extend their unbeaten run to several matches, with this latest victory marking their sixteenth of the campaign.
For Fortuna Köln, the defeat was disheartening but did not drop them off significantly from the playoff race, as they remain positioned fourth with eight points separating them from Duisburg. Nevertheless, this match served as a reminder of the competitive nature of the league, as several contenders failed to secure points over the weekend.
Both teams are now set for their next matches, with Duisburg traveling to face SC Wiedenbrück on March 7, 2025, as they look to build on this successful outing. Fortuna Köln, eager to rebound, will host Sportfreunde Lotte the following day, where they will aim to re-establish their winning form and keep their promotion hopes alive.
Overall, this top-of-the-table clash displayed the defensive strength and tactical shrewdness of MSV Duisburg, as they continue to showcase why they are the team to beat this season.