2. Bundesliga: Fortuna Düsseldorf boost survival hopes with win over promotion hopefuls Elversberg

In a huge game for both sides, the hosts were the ones to produce a stellar performance. Fortuna Düsseldorf climbed to 14th place with the 3-1 victory over promotion hopefuls Elversberg.

Alexander Ende won his Fortuna Düsseldorf home debut against Dynamo Dresden a couple of weeks ago, but they entered the penultimate week of the season in the red zone following defeats in Magdeburg and Schalke.

However, another excellent performance at Merkur Spiel-Arena has now put them in a favorable position ahead of the game at Greuther Fürth next week. Fürth were unable to keep the pace as a defeat to Hertha opened a three-point gap between them.

Cedric Itten is once again Düsseldorf’s star man with goals either side of the half-time break.  Marin Ljubicic created the first goal for the hosts in the 25th minute as Florian Le Joncour scored an own-goal from his dangerous cutback.

Itten got his first of the day in the 43rd minute before netting his 15th goal of a debut 2. Bundesliga campaign early in the second-half. His second goal was a brilliant lob after Nicolas Kristof slipped in Elversberg's goal. However, both Itten and experienced fullback Matthias Zimmermann are going to miss the game against Fürth after picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season.

Elversberg pushed for a late comeback, but they could only muster a late consolation goal. Substitute Valgeir Lunddal came very close to beating his own goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier before Tim Oberdorf succeeded in doing so in the first minute of injury-time.

Elversberg will now have to beat already relegated Preußen Münster at home to secure a first-ever Bundesliga promotion. Vincent Wagner’s side are level on points with Hannover and Paderborn, but they have a big lead over both teams in goal difference.