Dampener for Paderborn: Only 1:1 against Braunschweig - Paderborn's late equalizer fails to close gap on Schalke in 2. Bundesliga thriller
SC Paderborn squandered the opportunity to narrow the gap on league leaders FC Schalke 04 after a dramatic 1-1 draw with Eintracht Braunschweig. A late equalizer from Sven Michel secured a point, but Paderborn slipped to fourth in the 2. Bundesliga table. The result leaves them three points behind Schalke, who remain top with 50 points from 25 games.
Eintracht Braunschweig took the lead in the 52nd minute through Robin Heußer. Their advantage lasted until deep into stoppage time, despite playing with ten men for nearly half an hour. Patrick Nkoa's red card had left Braunschweig a player short, but Paderborn struggled to capitalize on the numerical advantage.
With seconds remaining, Sven Michel struck in the 90th+8th minute to level the score. The late goal secured a point for Paderborn, but it wasn't enough to prevent them dropping to fourth place. They now sit on 47 points from 24 games, while Schalke maintain their lead at the summit.
For Braunschweig, the draw keeps them just above the automatic relegation zone. A three-point cushion separates them from the bottom two, though their battle for survival continues.
Paderborn's failure to win means Schalke stay firmly in control of the promotion race. The late equalizer at least prevented a loss, but the dropped points leave them trailing the leaders. Braunschweig, meanwhile, take a small but crucial step in their fight against relegation.
