Damion Downs set Cologne on their way to an impressive win at Schalke. - © IMAGO/Weis/TEAM2sportphoto

2. Bundesliga

Bundesliga 2, Matchday 4 highlights: Fortuna and Fürth going strong, Cologne sweep aside Schalke

31.08.2024

Cologne impressed against Schalke, after Fortuna Düsseldorf went top and Hamburg returned to winning ways...

Matchday 4 results

Schalke 1-3 Cologne
Goals: 0-1 Downs 25', 0-2 Maina 45+1, 0-3 Lemperle 46', 1-3 Karaman 65'

Cologne continued their promising start to their Bundesliga 2 season with a resounding victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Schalke. Youngster Damion Downs provided further evidence as to why he will be a key player for the side this season, opening the scoring after 25 minutes. A strong first-half ended with the ever-reliable Linton Maina popping up with the second of the afternoon, giving the away side some breathing space going into the break. The home side couldn't shake of a sluggish first half and just one minute into the second half, Tim Lemperle made it three as he tucked home a close-range finish. Schalke did manage to pull a goal back through Kenan Karaman, who converted his penalty with 25 minutes to go, but it was too little, too late.

Hamburg 4-1 Preußen Münster
Goals: 1-0 Glatzel 7', 2-0 Elfadli 26', 3-0 Glatzel 45'+1, 3-1 Paetow 58', 4-1 Heyer 64'

Robert Glatzel marked his return to the starting line-up with a brace as Hamburg recorded a routine win over promoted Preußen Münster. The experienced striker headed home Fabio Baldé's centre as early as the seventh minute, and it was 2-0 midway through the opening period with Daniel Elfadli firing in his side's second. Hamburg ended the half strongly and were rewarded when Glatzel netted his second of the day following a swift counter-attack. Münster rallied after the break and pulled a goal back through Torge Paetow, but the day belonged to Steffen Baumgart's men, with Moritz Heyer adding the gloss just past the hour.

Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-0 Hannover
Goals: 1-0 Schmidt 59'

Last season's promotion play-off losers Fortuna Düsseldorf continued their solid start to the new campaign by racking up a third victory in four unbeaten games. Danny Schmidt arguably should have ended this encounter with more than the one goal he registered, pouncing on a rebound just short of the hour mark. However, the 21-year-old's second goal in as many games was ultimately enough to send Daniel Thioune's side to the top of the standings. For Hannover, it was their first loss of the season.

Jahn Regensburg 0-4 Greuther Fürth
Goals: 0-1 Meyerhöfer 4', 0-2 Futkeu 49', 0-3 Hrgota 77', 0-4 Green 88'

Greuther Fürth remain unbeaten this season after a thumping win away to Jahn Regensburg. Marco Meyerhöfer netted early from a corner to set the Cloverleaves on their way and when Noel Futkeu added a second shortly after the restart, the wind was taken out of Jahn's sails. USMNT international Julian Green later had a couple of efforts blocked, but Branimir Hrgota was there on the follow up to make it 3-0. Green's sublime fourth rounded out the scoring as Fürth climbed up to third in the table.

Kaiserslautern 3-4 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 0-1 Schuler 28', 1-1 Klement 32', 2-1 Opoku-Tiawiah 45', 2-2 Scherhant 51', 2-3 Schuler 64', 3-3 Tomiak 68', 3-4 Cuisance 79'

Kaiserslautern lost their first match of the season in a helter-skelter encounter with Hertha Berlin. Luca Schuler opened the scoring for the visitors, only for the hosts to race in front before the break. Hertha then proceeded to swing the tie in their direction once more, with Schuler completing his brace thanks to assists from Jonjoe Kenny for both strikes. Boris Tomiak then fired Lautern back on level terms before Mickaël Cuisance smashed an unlikely goal with the help of a deflection following a short corner. The seventh goal in the pulsating encounter would prove to be the last, despite the hosts pushing until deep into stoppage time for a leveller.

Elversberg 4-0 Darmstadt
Goals: 1-0 Schnellbacher 5’, 2-0 Asllani 20‘, 3-0 Asllani 59’, 4-0 Gerezgiher 90’

Elversberg brought up their first three points of the season in some style as they thumped winless Darmstadt. The hosts set the tone inside five minutes through Luca Schnellbacher. They doubled their advantage when Fisnik Asllani’s shot took a wicked deflection, but there was no luck about his second and Elversberg’s third as he picked out the far corner after getting past a couple of defenders. The match was then halted for around 20 minutes as Florian Le Joncour received treatment for an arm injury and had to be stretchered off. After the resumption, Filimon Gerezgiher added a fourth with a thumping shot into the top corner. There was almost a fifth in the 104th minute, but Elias Baum’s effort was ruled out for offside upon VAR review.

Nuremberg 0-4 Magdeburg
Goals: 0-1 Amaechi 24‘, 0-2 Burcu 65’, 0-3 Nollenberger 84’, 0-4 Hercher 90’+2

Magdeburg continued their unbeaten start to the season with a comprehensive win in Nuremberg. Xavier Amaechi put the visitors ahead with a rebound, which was initially ruled out for offside. They had a second when Livan Burcu picked out the bottom corner somewhat against the run of play. Miroslav Klose’s side found the going tough and soon shipped a third when Alexander Nollenberger curled one in with a few minutes remaining. Philipp Hercher rounded off a big away win with a fourth in added time as Christian Titz’s side equalled their biggest victory in Bundesliga 2 and their best-ever start after four games.

Eintracht Braunschweig 1-2 Karlsruhe
Goals: 1-0 Bičakčić 14', 1-1 Hunziker 73', 1-2 Zivzivadze 87'

Karlsruhe inflicted a fourth straight Bundesliga 2 defeat of the season on Eintracht Braunschweig. Eintracht opened the scoring through captain Ermin Bičakčić, but a Karlsruhe side that had won their previous two league games and a DFB Cup fixture in-between roared back. First to strike was Andrin Hunziker, who headed home from close range from a Marvin Wanitzek cross, before Budu Zivzivadze scored with only a few minutes to spare to seal the victory for his side.

Paderborn 0-0 Ulm

Paderborn continued their unbeaten start to the season with a goalless draw against promoted Ulm. The visitors survived a couple of scares as Pelle Boevnik failed to make the most of a couple of first-half opportunities. Paderborn didn't land a shot on the Ulm goal until the 90th minute when Raphael Obermair chanced his arm from range. Substitute Koen Kostons should have won it in added time, but miscued from close range with only the goalkeeper to beat.