SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- August 28, 2026 -- Fortuna Düsseldorf beat VfB Stuttgart II 1-0 on Friday night in the third matchday of Germany's 3. Liga, picking up its first win of the season after opening the campaign with two straight losses. Andreas Müller scored the only goal. Both clubs' coaches described the match as scrappy and low on quality, with Stuttgart II head coach Nico Willig calling the winning goal a classic bad-luck own-side error.
Düsseldorf, which dropped from the 2. Bundesliga last season, had rebuilt its squad with 16 to 17 new signings over the summer. Head coach Alexander Ende said the team played a solid preseason but stumbled out of the gate, losing a difficult away match at Mannheim before following it with a poor home performance. He said breaking that pattern required grinding, defensive work rather than open, attacking football, and that keeping a clean sheet mattered more than style points on the night.
Goalkeeper Louis Lord Gets First Start On Form, Not Guarantee
Ende started goalkeeper Louis Lord ahead of Friday's match, saying the decision came down to Lord's training performances rather than any long-term commitment. Ende described it as rewarding current momentum, not a fixed pecking order for the rest of the season.
Müller Nurses Rib Pain After Scoring The Winner
Müller said he collided with an opponent during the match and expected to take painkillers afterward to manage rib soreness. He described his goal as a typical grind-it-out 3. Liga finish born out of what he called an attritional, dirty contest. Müller also acknowledged the pressure surrounding Düsseldorf given its recent relegation, saying the squad understood the club does not belong at this level long-term but that sustained results, not immediate promotion, are the realistic path forward.
Hendrix Sits Out Again After Red-Card Suspension
Midfielder Jorrit Hendrix missed the match while serving a suspension tied to another red card, a recurrence he said weighed on him personally. He said the team had spent time talking through its slow start but that results, not more discussion, needed to follow soon.
Willig Says Stuttgart II Lacked Precision In Front Of Goal
Willig said his side defended with enough commitment to stay competitive but gave away possession too easily in transition moments, limiting scoring chances. He conceded Düsseldorf produced more shot attempts overall and that the result was not undeserved, even as he criticized his team's lack of precision and cutting edge. Willig placed Stuttgart II in the lower half of the table and said the group still needs significant training time to fix ongoing issues. Stuttgart II also sits on three points after three matches played.