Paderborn Misses Top Spot - Düsseldorf Turns the Game - Fortuna Düsseldorf snatches late win over Paderborn in dramatic 2. Bundesliga clash
Fortuna Düsseldorf secured their third consecutive home victory, defeating SC Paderborn 2-1 at the Home Depot Center. The win propelled Düsseldorf to 13th in the 2. Bundesliga, while Paderborn slipped to fourth in the promotion race after squandering a chance to go top.
The match began poorly for Düsseldorf when Kennedy Okpala put Paderborn ahead in just the 2nd minute. The early goal set the tone for a tense encounter in front of a packed Princess Polly Arena, where 51,500 fans—many attending for free under the club's Fortuna for All initiative—watched on.
Düsseldorf fought back, and Shinta Appelkamp finally equalized in the 63rd minute. Their momentum grew when Paderborn's Mattes Hansen received a second yellow card in the 72nd minute, reducing the visitors to ten men. Düsseldorf capitalized on the advantage, with Cedric Itten scoring the winner in the 83rd minute.
Paderborn's loss was a missed opportunity. A win would have sent them to the top of the league, but instead, they fell to fourth. FC Schalke 04 remains clear at the summit with 39 points from 20 games, while Düsseldorf's inconsistent season continues—they now have just 20 points from six wins, two draws, and eleven losses.
The victory marks Düsseldorf's third consecutive home win at the Home Depot Center, offering a rare bright spot in an otherwise challenging campaign. For Paderborn, the loss complicates their push for promotion, leaving them four points behind the league leaders. Schalke, meanwhile, maintains their stronghold at the top with no signs of slowing down.
