REGENSBURG, Germany (Interstat) — Substitute Lars Gindorf scored a second-half brace within four minutes to power Alemannia Aachen to a season-opening 3-1 victory over Jahn Regensburg in 3. Liga football action on Friday.

Playing before a home crowd at Jahnstadion, Regensburg was handed a surprising defeat after pregame projections heavily favored a draw or a home win. Data firm Interstat had simulated a 1-1 final score and gave Regensburg a 52.9% probability of victory based on its ELO rating system.

The match’s tense and physical nature was established early, with five yellow cards issued in a chaotic 15-minute span either side of halftime. The breakthrough, however, came just before that flurry. Aachen forward Eric Hottmann opened the scoring in the 34th minute, giving the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.

Regensburg’s hopes of a comeback were dashed shortly after the restart by Gindorf’s quick-fire double. The Aachen substitute, who entered the match after halftime, found the net in the 48th and 52nd minutes, transforming a narrow one-goal advantage into a commanding 3-0 lead. His first goal was assisted by defender Leopold Wurm, while his second was set up by fellow substitute Marius Wegmann.

The three-goal cushion allowed Aachen to absorb Regensburg’s increased pressure through the latter stages. The home side managed a consolation goal in the 87th minute when their own substitute, Mika Schroers, scored off an assist from Mehdi Loune. The goal prevented a shutout but did little to change the match’s outcome.

The contest was marred by discipline issues, with the referee showing seven yellow cards in total. Aachen’s Wegmann was booked in the 33rd minute, just before Hottmann’s opener. Regensburg defenders Wurm and Leo Mätzler were cautioned in the 45th and 47th minutes, respectively, during the buildup to Gindorf’s explosive entry. Second-half substitutes Loune, Florian Dietz, Lamar Yarbrough and Matti Wagner were also booked in a match that grew increasingly fractious.

With the result, Alemannia Aachen begins its 3. Liga campaign with a perfect record of one win and no losses, carrying that form into all competitions for the season. Jahn Regensburg, conversely, starts with a defeat in both the league and its overall campaign, facing an early setback after the high expectations surrounding the home opener.

The victory was a testament to Aachen’s effective use of its bench, with substitutes directly contributing to all three goals through scoring or assists. Gindorf’s decisive performance off the pine provided the pivotal turning point in a match that statistically appeared destined for a deadlock.