Duisburg saw off Meppen 3:0 to open the 3. Liga regular season at home on Saturday. The hosts have won all four of their matches so far and sit top of the table on 12 points, while Meppen are 11th on 6 after two defeats.
Lobinger broke the deadlock in the eighth minute and here's the thing — that early lead let Duisburg control the tempo without chasing the game. They made it 2:0 through Schlicke in the 64th, and Noss added a third in the 84th to close out a comfortable afternoon.
Meppen made changes to respond: Ehlers came on at half-time, then Schmitt, Viet, Missner and Lobinger were brought off in quick succession. By then the result was already decided, and the visitors could not find a way back into the match.
Duisburg had 51 per cent possession and 101 attacks to Meppen's 105, but the difference came in front of goal. The hosts registered four shots on target and scored three, while the visitors managed just one shot on target and failed to convert.
The win moves Duisburg further clear at the summit, and Meppen's run of two defeats in a row suggests they have work to do before the next round. Four games in, the table is already taking shape.