Bayern Munich II picked up a critical early victory on Tuesday in the Munich Derby, beating TSV 1860 Munich II 3-1.
Fourteen points off the pace coming into the match, the kleine Bayern took advantage of a packed house on the Grünwalder Straße to win against their crosstown rivals, an opponent that they struggled with last year. Ylli Sallahi collected the winning goal before halftime, and Tobias Schweinsteiger tacked on an insurance goal in stoppage time of the second half.
"We brought a top performance against a very good opponent," said Bayern II manager Erik ten Hag. "A very important win, by which we can outgrow ourselves. I congratulate my team for an outstanding player and tactical performance."
Players who traveled to the United States returned to the side; Sallahi, Schweinsteiger, Angelos Oikonomou, and Leopold Zingerle were in ten Hag's starting XI, playing left back, striker, holding midfielder and goalkeeper respectively.
Gerrit Wegkamp headed in the opening goal in the fourth minute off of a set piece delivery from Sallahi. The Löwen equalized in the 30th minute with a set piece of their own, Peter Kurzweg scoring from point blank range (ironic to his name) after Korbinian Vollman delivered him a pass in the six-yard box.
Sallahi punched in his eventual game winner in the 45th minute, firing a "worth-seeing curler" from the right flank. Frustrations rose in the second half, but the Bayern reserves were able to hold 1860 at bay. Schweinsteiger capitalized on a defensive turnover in added time to assure the victory.
According to kicker, 12,260 paying customers showed up to the Städtisches Stadion. That sort of crowd is typical for a Munich derby, but the Bayern support was great enough for ten Hag to take notice.
"Our fans once again made Rambazamba today," said ten Hag. "It was outstanding to play in front of this backdrop and the win sweetened all the more."
Those fans included Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery, both of whom had brothers playing in the match. With the DFL Supercup tomorrow, their presence at the reserve match is a strong of an indicator as any that neither will be available for the Klassiker.
Bayern II now sit on eight points in the Regionalliga Bayern with two games in hand on division-leading Würzburger Kickers, who has 19 points. The reserves next play FC Augsburg II, who are even with them on points.