Goalkeeper Vincent Müller scored a curious goal in MSV Duisburg’s 3-0 win at SV Meppen. Why it is a symbol for captain Moritz Stoppelkamp.

MSV Duisburg celebrated their third win in a row when they beat SV Meppen 3-0 on Sunday. The number one topic of conversation after the final whistle: the sensational goal by goalkeeper Vincent Müller. The keeper scored from a good 70 metres on the half-hour mark with a free kick to make it 2:0 in the meantime. It should be clear after the fifth matchday that this goal has already secured its place in any season reviews.

The fact that captain Moritz Stoppelkamp once again delivered a strong performance was almost forgotten. The 35-year-old’s own goal gave Duisburg the lead after a sharp cross. Stoppelkamp scored the final goal from the penalty spot. In doing so, he seamlessly continued his performance in last Monday’s 3-1 win over SC Freiburg II.

After five matchdays, the offensive man already has three goals and four assists – making him second in the league-wide scorers’ list behind Elversberg’s Luca Schnellbacher (five goals, three assists). “That was an almost perfect game. We struck effectively in the first half and of course saw a curious 2:0. After that it was much easier,” Stoppelkamp summed up after the win in Meppen on the microphone at Magenta Sport.

Stoppelkamp himself had once scored a similarly curious goal to Müller. Eight years ago, in the jersey of SC Paderborn, he famously scored from over 82 metres and thus from an even further distance. To this day, the Duisburg native holds the Bundesliga record.

Stoppelkamp took his team-mate’s goal as a symbol for the situation of the Revierklub: “The goal describes our current situation quite well. Last year we would have conceded a goal like that. I think we are playing very, very well together at the moment, that everyone is there for each other. That we are working on the football,” said Stoppelkamp after the third win in a row at Magenta Sport. “That should also be our identity this year.”

The Zebras can extend their little winning streak in just over a week’s time. In Monday’s match, they welcome promoted VfB Oldenburg (29 August, 7pm). Before that, they have the Niederrheinpokal duel at the underclass Viktoria Mennrath (7.30 p.m., RS-Liveticker) this Thursday.