The Regionalliga West got off to a good start. Many goals were scored on the first matchday. Two newcomers were able to celebrate.

Matchday 1 in the Regionalliga West. It was not a good start for the second teams of Schalke, Gladbach and Düsseldorf. Two up-and-comers, on the other hand, were able to score their first three goals.

Like the first team, like the second? FC Schalke 04’s U23s did the same as the professionals and fluffed their start. The parallels are unmistakable: a penalty kick, a sending-off and five goals – but let’s take it one step at a time.

Against 1. FC Bocholt, Malik Talabidi first brought down Marvin Lorch in his own sixteen. Malek Fakhro coolly slotted the penalty into the left corner (15.). Schalke needed some time to find their way into the game, but then equalized through Keke Topp (35th).

But a double low blow followed. Grace Bokake was duped by Fakhro and brought down the striker 18 meters from his own goal as the last man – straight red was the consequence (43.). Brian Campmann took the resulting free kick to lead the game at halftime (44th). After the change of ends, Gino Windmüller (65th) increased the lead, the connecting goal by Niklas Castelle (68th) fizzled out with goals by Dildar Atmaca (83rd) and Fakhro (85th) for a final score of 5:2.

Velbert celebrates a perfect start

On the other hand, SSVg Velbert had a perfect start. In the home game, SV Lippstadt 08 was defeated 2-0 and the first three points were brought in. The hosts were already superior in the first half, but the goals only came in the second 45 minutes. Markus Pazurek (67th) and Benjamin Hemcke (85th) were the scorers.

FC Wegberg-Beeck was also able to celebrate directly. Against Fortuna Düsseldorf II, the promoted team had good opportunities, especially in the second half. Timo Braun scored the 1:0 goal (74th).

Düren and Rödinghausen win

1st FC Düren was ice-cold in front of goal. Against Borussia Mönchengladbach II, it only took two shots on goal from Vincent Geimer (8th, 42nd) to take a 2-0 lead. Gladbach’s follow-up goal to 1:2 by Michel Lieder (81.) was too little despite a high effort in the second half.

SV Rödinghausen also started with a win. Mirko Schuster was the player of the day in the 2-0 win against Rot Weiss Ahlen. First he converted a penalty to take the lead (22.), then he prepared the decision by Thilo Töpken (85.).