VfL Wolfsburg dramatically lost relegation against SC Paderborn and was relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in its history.
Coach Dieter Hecking’s team, which had been outnumbered for a long time, lost to East Westphalia in the second leg 1:2 (1:1, 1:1) after extra time. The SCP celebrated the third promotion to the first division after 2014 and 2019.
In front of 15,000 spectators in the sold-out Paderborn Stadium, Filip Bilbija (38th minute) and Laurin Curda (100th) scored the goals for the hosts, coached by Ralf Kettemann. Unlike the 0-0 draw in the first leg, this time the SCP presented a powerful offensive performance.
For Wolfsburg, however, all it takes is a quick goal. Dzenan Pejcinovic’s opening goal (3rd) was not enough. Joakim Maehle saw yellow-red (14th) and decisively weakened his team, which had not been able to complete its comeback of the past few weeks.
VfL only had a chance in the playoffs with eight points from the last five Bundesliga games. At the end of a season that was completely messed up right from the start, there is now sadness and disappointment. In the coming weeks, the multi-million dollar Volkswagen club will have to carry out a comprehensive review of the playing time.
Lots of action right from the start
“We have to go one better today if we want to stay in the league,” Hecking said on Sat.1 before the game. And his team took the 61-year-old at his word at the start of the game. Wolfsburg got off to a dream start. Adam Daghim sprinted down the left flank, laid back and Pejcinovic made the traveling VfL fans celebrate with a well-placed low shot into the corner.
However, Paderborn were not left lastingly impressed by their early deficit. The East Westphalians, who had been warmed up to the game by their fans with a bus reception and fireworks, showed a good reaction and gained field advantages.
The reward initially wasn’t a goal, but it was the majority. Maehle, who had recently seen yellow when forming a pack, was overly motivated in a duel with Mattes Hansen. Referee Felix Zwayer didn’t hesitate and sent the Dane off the pitch.
Paderborn rewarded themselves for a lot of effort with the equalizer
Wolfsburg retreated when they were outnumbered and Paderborn built up pressure. The equalizer was only a matter of time. A shot from Mika Baur whizzed just wide of the goal. When Santiago Castaneda tried, Kamil Grabara was there in the Wolfsburg goal. Then Bilbija shook the arena. The 26-year-old scored with his head after an extended throw-in.
The one-goal game continued after halftime. Jeanuel Belocian and Christian Eriksen saved Wolfsburg from a double chance from Paderborn. Sebastian Klaas hit the post with a powerful shot.
Virtually nothing came offensively from Wolfsburg. Given the Bundesliga club’s squad potential, this was astonishing despite the minority. The statistics also provided evidence of the one-sided nature of the game: after a good hour, SCP had taken 13 corners and VfL had taken one.
Despite the inferiority, the guests somehow saved themselves into extra time, also because Sven Michel for Paderborn only hit the post again in stoppage time. But in extra time, Lower Saxony conceded 1:2. Curda gave the second division team a deserved lead and turned the small Paderborn stadium into a madhouse.
