Leckie on target in Germany

Mathew Leckie struck his second goal of the season on Saturday morning (AEST) to clinch victory for FC Ingolstadt and send the Bavarian club to the top of the 2.Bundesliga.

Ingolstadt won 4-1 over Vfr Aalen to overhaul Bochum at the top of Germany's second tier with Leckie scoring in the 82nd minute to give his team a two-goal cushion, successfully marking his return from the Socceroos.

Leckie started both friendlies versus Belgium and Saudi Arabia for Australia in the recent international break.

The former Adelaide United forward's goal would have been very familiar to A-League fans with the 23-year-old racing clear of Aalen's defence, collecting Pascal Gross' pass and beating the opposition goalkeeper in a one-on-one.



Leckie now has two goals and two assists in five matches for Ingolstadt.

The Victorian's stellar start at his new club may have silenced some of the critics of his decision to join Ingolstadt from FSV Frankfurt before the World Cup.

Some pundits claimed Leckie could have signed for a club in Germany's top tier but if the Socceroos striker and Ingolstadt maintain their form - they lead Kaiserslautern on goal difference, while Bochum and Karlsruher are two points adrift - they could be playing in the Bundesliga next season.

While Leckie secured the three points for Ingolstadt it was Gross who was the star on Friday night at the Audi-Sportpark, setting up the home side's first three goals.

Ingolstadt led 1-0 after 10 minutes through Stefan Lex, who back-heeled Gross' cross into the net, but Aalen equalised just after the break thanks to a goal from Andreas Ludwig.

But Gross ensured Ingolstadt were ahead again just after the hour mark, putting a cross on former Aalen player Benjamin Hubner's head, who powered the ball into the net.

Leckie was the third player to benefit from Gross' fine lead-up play, before an own goal in stoppage time from Aalen defender Andrew Hainault completed the scoring.