Fortuna Düsseldorf successfully passed the test against Heracles Almelo, the second division club beat the visitors from the Netherlands with 2:1.
With Predl, Fortuna had a returnee in the starting line-up after overcoming injury, apart from that the squad was correspondingly decimated due to the international break. The same was true for the visitors from the Netherlands.
Düsseldorf take early control
Both teams were straight into the game and engaged in intense duels in midfield, but offensive action was lacking. After ten minutes, Fortuna took control of the game and pushed the visitors into their own box again and again, finally Pledl scored with a full-stretch shot into the corner for 1:0 (19th). The goal seemed to unsettle Heracles and from then on only Düsseldorf played. Prib hit the crossbar with his head in the 21st minute, a few minutes later Iyoha increased the lead to 2:0 (33rd). The home side went into the break with this well-deserved lead.
Both teams like changed
At the beginning of the second half, both teams showed a different face: Fortuna came out of the dressing room very passive, Heracles took control of the game. Accordingly, the goal was deserved, Sierhuis kept his cool in the one-on-one in the 57th minute and reduced the score to 1:2. After the goal, Fortuna were safe at the back for long stretches, but were hardly active offensively. The visitors had much more possession, but they were repeatedly frustrated by the Düsseldorf backline.
No team had any offensive action worth mentioning until the final whistle, and the game ended 2-1. Fortuna will travel to Dynamo Dresden on the next matchday in the 2nd division, while Heracles Almelo will face Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie.
