The first two games of the Regionalliga West in 2024 have been played. These are the results.

The Regionalliga West returned from the winter break on the last weekend of January with three catch-up games instead of the originally planned five.

And there could hardly have been a better start to the year than for SC Paderborn’s reserves. In the away game at FC Gütersloh, the ball had not even been in play for a minute when Joel Vega Zambrano fired the visitors into the lead and caught FCG off guard. And just a few minutes later, attacker Moitz Flotho made it 2:0 for SCP with a header (9′).

An absolute false start for the hosts, who did not wake up from their winter hibernation at the beginning, but at least managed to keep the score at 0:2 going into the break. The 2nd half then started with a shock moment. After a header duel, FCG player Ilias Illig went down and had to be treated for a long time. After an interruption of around 30 minutes, the ambulance call was over and the game could continue. Forecasting wishes a speedy recovery!

After the long break, the FCG came back impressively. Kevin Freiberger, who came on as a substitute for the dazed Illig, gave the majority of the 1,100 spectators new hope with his 1-2, but Flotho made it all clear for the visitors with his 3-1.

Fortuna reserves almost squander three-goal lead

There was also a quick goal to be seen in the match between Fortuna Düsseldorf II and promoted FC Wegberg-Beeck. At the Paul Janes Stadium, a winter newcomer enjoyed a dream debut in a Fortuna jersey: After just under five minutes, Davino Knappe, on loan from SC Freiburg II, made it 1-0 for the hosts. After around half an hour, Luis Filipe Monteiro then increased the lead to 2:0, which was also the score at half-time.

Even after the break, the visitors were unable to get into the game, allowing Fortuna to add to their lead. Seymour Fünger headed home to make it 3:0 (52′) and finally put his team on the road to victory. But suddenly Wegberg came back into the game. First Shpend Hasani reduced the deficit (58′), before Finn Stromberg scored the final goal to make it 2:3. The Fortunen saved the score over time.

At 5.30 p.m., Rot-Weiß Oberhausen’s players will also kick off their competitive season when they face Borussia Mönchengladbach’s reserves. (To the RS live ticker)