Dynamo Dresden put in another commanding performance against Fortuna Düsseldorf, with Niklas Hauptmann’s goal in the first 30 seconds setting them up for a 3-0 win.
The goal was set up by Andreas ‘Lumpi’ Lambertz, regarded as a legend at former club Düsseldorf, and they made it two through a spectacular strike from Akaki Gogia.
Düsseldorf came into the game in good form but had no answer to their opponents, with Gogia making the game safe with a third in the second half, as Dresden went level on points with Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga table.
Lumpi’s back
Düsseldorf had been in great form, winning each of their last three league games, and came into the game with the chance to go second, at least overnight.
They made two changes from their win over 1. FC Union Berlin, with Kaan Ayhan and Axel Bellinghausen both suspended. 19-year-old Taylan Duman was given a senior debut, although it would end with injury an hour in, whilst Özkan Yildirim also came back in.
Dresden seem to be shaking off their own inconstant form, having recorded two impressive victories against VfB Stuttgart and leaders Eintracht Braunschweig, with a credible 0-0 draw with 1. FC Heidenheim in between.
They made two changes from the Braunschweig win, with Niklas Kreuzer and Erich Berko in for Nils Teixeira and Marvin Stefaniak. Also starting was Lumpi, the focus of much attention in the build-up as he returned to his former club for the first time.
Hauptmann leaves hosts stunned
Dresden got off to an incredible start, with a goal inside 30 seconds. And Lumpi was inevitably involved. His cross from the right found Hauptmann, who shot first time through a gap between two defenders and comfortably past Michael Rensing.
They remained on top, with Gogia forcing a save out of Rensing from a Dresden corner. Ihlas Bebou had a shot saved by Marvin Schwäbe, but that was as good as it got for the hosts.
Gogia would make it even better for the visitors with an incredible second goal. Hartmann regained possession for the visitors and he passed to Gogia, who made his way down pitch, had a look up, and struck a superb strike, with the ball going in off the post.
They almost had a third instantly. Berko hit the bar, striking over Rensing, after he was set up by Hauptmann following a quick Dresden break. They couldn’t keep up the onslaught, but Düsseldorf did little to fight their way back into the game, with Rouwen Hennings having a lone shot on goal.
Gogia strikes again
Düsseldorf started the second half relatively promisingly but still fell to the indignity of conceding from their own corner. It was headed quickly away, with Hauptmann charging down field, finding Berko, who laid the ball off to Gogia. He had an empty net to aim for, but took a touch to compose himself before bagging his second.
As in the first half, they almost struck again soon after. Stefan Kutschke was on the receiving end of a corner, with his shot on the bounce tipped away by Rensing.
Lumpi had a weak shot on goal in a quiet phase of the game, but having in the wars in the first half, when he clearly sustained leg injury, his evening came to an end with just under twenty minutes left when the pain had become too much. The 32-year-old went off to a warm reception from the entire ground
Düsseldorf would have a bright spell around ten minutes before half time. Hennings headed over a Jerome Kiesewetter cross, before Bebou had a thunderous strike from outside the box sent over the bar by Schäwbe.
As the game tipped into stoppage time, Hennnings got away with a yellow card after putting his elbow into the face of Florian Ballos. A little bit of luck for Düsseldorf, but in truth it was a torrid evening for them.