Ex-Duisburger is back in top form

Fortuna Düsseldorf celebrated their second big win in a row with a 5-0 victory at 1. FC Nürnberg. A striker who previously played for MSV Duisburg played a part in this.

Vincent Vermeij seems to have taken the right path. That’s often easy to say in retrospect, but it applies to the Fortuna Düsseldorf striker this season. While the 29-year-old can look towards the promotion places in the 2nd Bundesliga, things are anything but rosy at his former clubs in Germany.

The fact that the Dutch striker can dream of promotion to the Bundesliga has a lot to do with his own improved performance. He scored five goals in the last two games – a 5-3 win against FC Schalke 04 and a 5-0 win against 1. FC Nürnberg. Before that, he had only scored twice in eleven league games.

Vermeij has “arrived” in Düsseldorf

“I’ve just arrived now. I feel good and I can see that I can be important for the team,” said Vermeij after the win in Nuremberg, in which he scored a hat-trick. Before he rediscovered his eye for goal, the Dutchman suffered a concussion on November 3 and was absent for one match day. Since then, he has been on a steep upward trajectory – as has his team.

This is quite different from his previous clubs. Last season, Vermeij played for SC Freiburg II in the third division, scoring 15 goals and helping the team to finish as runners-up. However, his contract was not extended after the season. Nevertheless, he made his debut in the top flight under coach Christian Streich. SC Freiburg II are now in the bottom half of the 3rd division.

Just like Vincent Vermeij’s second former club, MSV Duisburg. The Meiderich-based club managed to celebrate their second win of the season on the last match day, but are still in the thick of the relegation battle. During his time at MSV Duisburg, Vermeij scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists in 56 third-division matches. The Duisburgers would no doubt welcome a striker like that back, after all, with just ten goals, they have the worst offense in the league.

Fortuna Düsseldorf will be back in action in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup against 1. FC Magdeburg this week (December 5, 6 p.m.). “We want to get through to the next round,” said Vermeij. Perhaps he can help out with his goals again.