Second division club SC Paderborn advanced to the round of 16 of the DFB Cup on Wednesday (19.10.22) with a hard-fought 7:6 win over Bundesliga club Werder Bremen. Werder disappointed, especially in the first half, but fought back.
Felix Platte gave Paderborn the lead (22′), Sirlord Conteh increased before the break. Leonardo Bittencourt gave Werder hope in the middle of the second half (65′). Although Paderborn seemed to be on the road to victory, Mitchell Weiser equalized late (84th) and headed Bremen into overtime. In the end, the penalty shoot-out brought the decision. Richmond Tachie converted the very last penalty.
Werder with a good start
Werder sorely missed Marvin Duksch, who had been dropped from the squad by coach Ole Werner for disciplinary reasons. After the last defeat against Mainz, Werner had changed his team to three positions.
The guests started braver and more self-confident, but without penetrating power. Only a poorly placed and powerful header from Jens Stage into the arms of Paderborn keeper Leopold Zingerle was recorded by Werder.
Paderborn quickly dominant
The SCP recognized Bremen’s list of shortcomings early on and took control of the game. This paid off in the 22nd minute when Marvin Pieringer was passed through and Felix Platte used his cross pass to give the lead against two Bremen players.
Shortly after Niklas Füllkrug missed a shot at Zingerle, who made a strong save, the hosts increased: After a chain of errors in the Werder defense up to keeper Jiri Pavlenka, Conteh had a clear shot and scored from twelve meters to make it 2-0.
Hope at Bremen
SC Paderborn remained focused after the half-time break, captain Ron Schallenburg failed in an attempt to make it 3-0 because of the excellent parrying Pavlenka. But then Werder Bremen struck out of nowhere.
Bittencourt, who had just come on as a substitute, converted a pass from Weiser into a deflected shot from 20 meters out: a goal. The goal brought a breath of fresh air into the game of the Hanseatic League, who now gained significantly more game shares. But the East Westphalians remain vigilant and have repeatedly been able to launch relief attacks.
Lucky strike Bittencourt – first …
Bittencourt’s substitution turned out to be a stroke of luck: Weiser headed a corner from Bittencourt into the net for a celebrated equalizer for Bremen. The guests also scored the next goal – now already in extra time – but referee Frank Willenborg conceded Niclas Füllkrug’s goal because he and his teammates wanted to have recognized a foul by Bremen beforehand. A Paderborn goal shortly before the end of extra time was not recognized because of a foul play in the making.
In the second half of extra time, both teams pushed for the decision, but only the penalty shoot-out brought SC Paderborn to victory – Tachie converted the last penalty after Bittencourt of all people failed to convert.
Paderborn now in Braunschweig, Bremen at SC Freiburg
Paderborn will play in the second division next Saturday (October 22nd, 2022, 1 p.m.) at Eintracht Braunschweig, Bremen will play in Freiburg (October 22nd, 2022, 3.30 p.m.).