AACHEN, Germany (Interstat) — Alemannia Aachen opened its 3. Liga campaign with a decisive 3-1 victory over visiting Stuttgart on Saturday at Tivoli.

The home side controlled the match after Niklas Castelle’s opening goal in the ninth minute. Stuttgart’s Leny Meyer, a substitute, leveled the score just after halftime in the 49th, but Aachen responded swiftly. Mika Schroers restored the lead eight minutes later before defender Marius Wegmann sealed the win with a 72nd-minute goal.

The result defied a pregame projection of a 2-2 draw. Five yellow cards were issued in a physical contest. Aachen begins the season with a win, while Stuttgart starts with a loss in league play.