Vincent Vermeij is in excellent form at 2. Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf and displayed ambition after scoring three goals against 1. FC Nürnberg. The former player of clubs such as De Graafschap and Heracles Almelo hopes to return to the Bundesliga with Die Rheinländer.
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Fortuna Düsseldorf was relegated from the top German league in 2020 and failed to secure promotion in the following seasons, finishing fifth, tenth, and fourth in the 2. Bundesliga. Thanks in part to Vincent Vermeij's five goals in the last two league matches, Fortuna Düsseldorf currently sits in fourth place after fifteen games. The top two teams gain direct promotion, while the third-placed team competes in playoff matches.
Settled
Following two goals in the home victory over Schalke 04 (5-3), Vermeij found the net three more times in the away match against Nürnberg on Saturday. The striker (pictured during his time at SC Freiburg) converted a penalty and scored twice with his head. Vermeij became the second Dutchman to score three goals in a 2. Bundesliga match. In April 2005, Erik Meijer achieved the feat for Alemannia Aachen.
Vermeij's recent goal-scoring spree has propelled him up the top scorers' list; he now shares fourth place with seven goals. Hamburger SV striker Robert Glatzel leads the list with eleven goals. 'I feel good, and my teammates now know how to find me on the pitch,' Vermeij said after the victory over Nürnberg to Bild. 'When you join a new team, you have to earn respect first. The guys now know where my strengths lie.'
Wishlist
'There are always things you want to tick off your list: a hat-trick was one of them, especially after scoring two goals last week. I haven't scored in a home game in front of our passionate fans yet. And I would love to score in the Bundesliga,' Vermeij said. He made the move to Fortuna Düsseldorf last summer from SC Freiburg. He played only one Bundesliga match for that club: the striker was a regular for SC Freiburg II.
Vermeij hopes to make a push for promotion to the top level with Fortuna Düsseldorf. 'If we maintain the level of the past two games, it's possible. We all know what we're capable of as a team. But we shouldn't get carried away now,' said the striker, who has previously played for Jong Ajax, FC Den Bosch, and MSV Duisburg.
