Alemannia Aachen turn deficit around to beat retooled SC Verl
Alemannia Aachen turned a first-half deficit into a convincing season-opening win on Sunday evening, beating the retooled SC Verl 4-1 at the Aachener Tivoli.
From 0-1 down to 4-1 up
Despite trailing at the break, the third-tier side completed the comeback with goals from Faton Ademi, Mika Schroers, Lukas Scepanik and Daniel Starodid after Felix Vogler had put Verl ahead just after the quarter-hour.
The match drew 25,353 spectators to the Aachener Tivoli, where the hosts dominated possession and chances after the interval to secure all three points on the opening day of the league season.
Early setbacks for the hosts
Aachen’s afternoon began with a double blow: Matti Wagner went off injured after 17 minutes and was replaced by Fabio Torsiello, while Vogler’s 22nd-minute strike put the visitors ahead.
Schroers nearly equalised for Verl within two minutes, and Daniel Starodid twice threatened to restore parity before the break, but both efforts were denied by Verl goalkeeper Timo Schlieck.
Ademi sparks the comeback
Four minutes into the second half, Ademi pulled Aachen level after combining with Schroers, and the hosts never looked back.
Starodid then set up Schroers for the lead on 60 minutes, before Scepanik made it 3-1 from Torsiello’s cross eight minutes later.
Starodid completed the scoring in the 88th minute, sealing a deserved home victory.
Personnel overhaul at both clubs
Last season, the two sides finished level on points in sixth and seventh place, but both entered 2026-27 with major squad changes.
Verl brought in 14 new players and appointed Orest Shala as their new head coach, while Aachen also reshaped their squad over the summer.
Looking ahead
Both teams now face North Rhine-Westphalia derbies next weekend: Aachen travel to Fortuna Köln on Saturday (15.08.2026) at 14:00, while Verl host MSV Duisburg at 16:30.
Verl also open their Westphalia Cup campaign three days earlier with an away trip to FC Kaunitz on Wednesday (12.08.2026) at 19:00.