Waldhof Mannheim spoils Fortuna Düsseldorf's season start with 2-1 win

SV Waldhof Mannheim marked the debut of their new coach Rui Mota with a 2-1 victory over relegated side Fortuna Düsseldorf, spoiling their opponent's start to the 3. Fußball-Liga season. Playing in front of a passionate home crowd of 19,000 spectators, including over 3,500 traveling Fortuna fans, Waldhof secured a hard-fought win at the Carl-Benz-Stadion.

The match was not without its contentious moments. Early in the game, a potential red card offense for a last-man tackle by Fortuna's Lukas Klünter on Waldhof's Fabian Schleusener went unpunished. Later, in the closing stages, a header from Schleusener struck the post, denying Fortuna a late equalizer.

Waldhof took the lead in the 18th minute through Vincent Thill, with Fortuna's goalkeeper Lasse Rieß appearing to be caught off guard, possibly by the low sun. Shortly after halftime, Julian Ulbricht doubled the lead in the 48th minute. Fortuna managed to pull a goal back via Schleusener in the 56th minute and pushed for an equalizer, but could not find the net again.