Paderborn battle back from a goal down to beat Eintract Frankfurt

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:29 am
Uwe Huehemeier celebrates as he scores Paderborn's second goal.
Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images

Paderborn moved above Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga after coming from behind to beat the Eagles 3-1 on Sunday.

After a tight first half, Alexander Meier put the guests in front with his first real sight of goal.

Marvin Ducksch scored a stunning equaliser within 10 minutes, and captain Uwe Hunemeier then put the hosts in front before substitute Stefan Kutschke sealed their third win of the season.

The opening exchanges did not deliver much in the way of entertainment for the 15,000 fans packed into the compact Paderborn Arena.

Frankfurt seized the initiative, but their hosts were hardly hospitable with a strong defensive performance managing to keep Meier -- who had netted four in his last four games -- out of danger.

Their focus on him did enable Takashi Inui to carve out a few gaps for himself, albeit without penetrating as Paderborn held firm.

A quick move then caught the East Westphalians out with Inui cutting in from the left and laying the ball on a plate for the onrushing Meier, who shot instantly from 15 yards out -- and his first sight of goal -- with the ball striking the inside of the right-hand upright on its way in.

Paderborn had nothing to lose by gambling in their search for an equaliser, and it paid off when Ducksch exchanged passes with Kutschke before hitting a sweet volley into the far corner as the ball sat up for him.

Paderborn then stymied a Frankfurt counter-attack to take the lead themselves when Mario Vrancic threaded a perfect ball through for Hunemeier to meet with his left-foot, not even needing to control the ball as he swept it past Felix Wiedwald first time from close to the penalty spot.

There was more to come too with Kutschke put through by a deflected Suleyman Koc pass, and he rounded Wiedwald before slotting the ball into the unguarded goal.

It was enough to seal victory for Paderborn and, thanks to that goal, take them above their guests into seventh place on goal difference.