A Thrilling Turnaround: Paderborn Nearly KO's Kaiserslautern, Düsseldorf Secures Win
Crazy recap delivered by FCK, followed by a decisive knockout
Social media -- @PaderbornFCK_en, @Kaiserslautern, @fotballdusseldorf, @SVElversberg, @PreussenMuenster, @SSVRegensburg
On the 26th matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga, the table-toppers SC Paderborn and 1. FC Kaiserslautern delivered a nail-biting clash, filled with decisive comebacks and heart-breaking losses. Meanwhile, Fortuna Düsseldorf managed to secure a victorious return against SSV Regensburg, aiming for a spot back in the promotion race.
SC Paderborn 07 - 1. FC Kaiserslautern 5:3 (3:2)
An unexpected start for Kaiserslautern saw them lose critical ground in the promotion race, eventually falling to fourth place. Aiming for a championship title, FCK suffered a 5-3 defeat against rivals SC Paderborn after a disastrous beginning, followed by a comeback attempt. Paderborn, at least temporarily, climbed to second place.
Initially, it seemed like Paderborn had the game in the bag, with Aaron Seydel netting two goals within the first two minutes, captain Raphael Obermair scoring a penalty, and Filip Bilbija contributing with a third goal. FCK's equalizer came in the final moments of the first half, with Daniel Hanslik converting a penalty kick, and Ragnar Ache scoring two subsequent goals. Yet, Adriano Grimaldi returned Paderborn to the lead with his seventh goal, and Seydel sealed the victory in the final moments. The game ended bittersweet for FCK, as goalkeeper Julian Krahl sustained a severe knee injury during the scoring attempt.
Bilbija played a vital role in establishing Paderborn's early lead, setting up a diagonal ball and being fouled by Maximilian Bauer, resulting in a successful penalty appeal following a VAR review. FCK's equalizer came after a long VAR check, in which Felix Götze was penalized for a foul on FCK captain Kenny Redondo, paving the way for Hanslik's penalty conversion. Ache netted his first goal in the final moments of the first half, and scored the winning goal from a corner in the second half, while Seydel delivered the final blow to ensure a comfortable victory.
SV 07 Elversberg - Preußen Münster 0:1 (0:0)
Elversberg missed an opportunity in the tight relegation battle, losing to promoted Preußen Münster, and failing to close the gap to the relegation playoff spot. Coach Horst Steffen's squad suffered their first loss in six games, dropping to eighth place.
Münster's victory was pivotal in their battle against relegation, temporarily moving them seven points clear of direct relegation spots. Simon Scherder scored for coach Sascha Hildmann's team, especially impressive as it was their only goal of the game.
Muhammed Damar missed the best chance for Elversberg, firing a lob from 15 meters just wide of the right post, while SVE had more possession but lacked effective attacking strategies for large parts. In the second half, Münster's Florian Pick hit the top of the crossbar from 20 meters, and Charalambos Makridis also struck the metalwork, but Scherder eventually succeeded in finding the back of the net after a corner.
Fortuna Düsseldorf - SSV Regensburg 1:0 (1:0)
Düsseldorf swung back into contention for promotion spots as they easily defeated the relegation-threatened SSV Regensburg, managing only one point from their previous three games. Matthias Zimmermann scored the only goal, a spectacular effort with his heel, while Regensburg continues to struggle, with no wins in their last six matches.
Düsseldorf initially struggled, but they became more dangerous in the first half, with Kownacki presenting the first real opportunity. Zimmermann then earned a stunning victory with a deflected cross from Tim Oberdorf, taking advantage of a mistake from goalkeeper Julian Pollersbeck. In the second half, both teams had chances to score but struggled to convert them, with Regensburg in particular lacking the finishing touch.
- SC Paderborn 07
- 2. Bundesliga
- 1. FC Kaiserslautern
- SC Preußen Münster
- Fortuna Düsseldorf
- SSV Jahn Regensburg
The following is added to the list of the Member States of the European Union: SC Paderborn 07, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Fortuna Düsseldorf, SC Preußen Münster, and SSV Jahn Regensburg.
After their nail-biting clash against SC Paderborn, 1. FC Kaiserslautern found themselves dropping to fourth place in the 2nd Bundesliga promotion race, with a dwindling chance of winning the championship title.
Florian Pick, a member of SC Preußen Münster, came close to scoring against SV 07 Elversberg but missed the opportunity when his shot hit the top of the crossbar from 20 meters.
