Ingolstadt — SV Wehen Wiesbaden produced a ruthless attacking display at the Audi Sportpark on Sunday evening, winning 4-2 at FC Ingolstadt to underline their credentials as one of the most dangerous sides in the German 3. Liga.

Six goals, a flurry of chances at both ends and a second half that swung back and forth made this one of the most entertaining matches of the round. Wiesbaden's finishing, however, was the difference: four goals from a handful of genuine opportunities, against an Ingolstadt side that created plenty but lacked the same cutting edge.

Match overview

The visitors started with real intensity, pressing Ingolstadt's defensive line and forcing mistakes in the opening exchanges. Two goals inside the first half-hour put Wiesbaden in command, the first a composed finish after a turnover in midfield, the second a header from a well-worked corner routine.

Ingolstadt responded before the interval, pulling one back with a close-range finish after a period of pressure, and the home crowd went into the break believing a comeback was on. Their optimism lasted until the hour mark, when Wiesbaden restored their two-goal cushion with a clinical counter-attack.

Ingolstadt scored again to make it 3-2 and pushed forward in search of an equaliser, committing bodies forward and leaving space behind. Wiesbaden punished them in stoppage time with a fourth goal, sealing a victory that had looked comfortable, then tense, then comfortable again.

Key moments

• 11' — 0-1 Wiesbaden: Antonio Jonjić intercepts a loose pass and finishes calmly one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
• 28' — 0-2 Wiesbaden: Thijmen Goppel's inswinging corner is met by a powerful header at the near post.
• 41' — 1-2 Ingolstadt: Sebastian Grønning bundles the ball home from close range after a scramble in the box.
• 59' — 1-3 Wiesbaden: A rapid break down the right ends with Tarik Gözüsirin sweeping the ball into the bottom corner.
• 74' — 2-3 Ingolstadt: Pascal Testroet converts a penalty after a foul in the area.
• 90+3' — 2-4 Wiesbaden: With Ingolstadt committed forward, Wiesbaden break clear and finish into an empty net.

Tactical story

Wiesbaden's approach was built on pressing triggers and fast transitions. They allowed Ingolstadt possession in deep areas but closed aggressively the moment the ball moved into midfield, and both of their first-half goals came directly from turnovers. Their wide players pinned Ingolstadt's full-backs deep, which in turn created space for the midfield runners arriving in the box.

Ingolstadt's problems were structural as well as technical. With both full-backs pushing high, the space behind them was repeatedly exploited, and Wiesbaden's third and fourth goals were textbook counter-attacks — three passes, a runner in behind, and a finish.

Going forward, Ingolstadt were far from poor. They delivered a high volume of crosses, won a penalty and tested the goalkeeper on several occasions. The issue was efficiency: where Wiesbaden converted almost every clear opening, the hosts needed multiple chances to score each goal.

Standout performers

Antonio Jonjić led the line superbly for Wiesbaden, scoring the opener and holding the ball up to bring others into play. Thijmen Goppel was a constant threat from wide areas and delivered the corner that produced the second goal, while Tarik Gözüsirin's driving runs from midfield repeatedly broke Ingolstadt's shape.

For the home side, Sebastian Grønning and Pascal Testroet both got on the scoresheet and worked tirelessly, but too many of Ingolstadt's attacking moves ended in hopeful deliveries rather than clear chances.

What it means in the table

Three points on the road keep Wiesbaden in the leading group of the 3. Liga, where the top two clubs are promoted automatically to the 2. Bundesliga and the third-placed team earns a two-legged play-off against the sixteenth-placed side in the division above. On this evidence, their combination of organisation and counter-attacking speed makes them genuine promotion contenders.

Ingolstadt, meanwhile, remain in mid-table, and this defeat highlights the inconsistency that has defined their season. They score goals, they create chances, but the defensive transitions that cost them here will continue to limit their ambitions unless they are addressed.

For the neutral, it was the kind of open, end-to-end contest that makes the 3. Liga so watchable. For the two managers, it was a night that told them very different things about their teams.