Leverkusen 4-2 Paderborn: Ibrahim Maza decides 120+2

Leverkusen beat Paderborn 4-2 after extra time to advance to the round of 16 of the German Cup (DFB-Pokal). 19-year-old Vietnamese talent Ibrahim Maza became the hero with a decisive finish in the 120+2 minute, before Alejandro Garcia sealed the victory in the 120+4 minute from an empty goal.

120+2 Moment: Maza Shapes the End

The moment of heaviest pressure was also the moment when Maza exploded. In the 120+2 minute, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder controlled the ball neatly, turned around and finished with a tricky shot, putting Leverkusen up 3-2. It was not only a kick that brought the ticket to the next round, but also a declaration from a young talent who had just been voted the best player of the match.

Paderborn plays evenly, Leverkusen is deadlocked

Second-tier Paderborn started the game with a vengeance, showing no fear of the rising team. Felix Gotze and Lucas Copado's shots repeatedly put Leverkusen's goal on edge. Despite dominating possession, the visitors were held back by the home team's disciplined defence; the only notable chance of the first half was a Hofmann volley that went just wide of the crossbar.

Hjulmand's substitution and the red card twist

After the break, coach Kasper Hjulmand sent in Poku and Kofane, helping Leverkusen accelerate on the flanks and in the middle. In the 58th minute, Kofane was fouled by Gotze in a face-off, leaving Paderborn with only 10 men. From the free kick immediately after, Grimaldo made an accurate curved shot, opening the score 1-0 in the 60th minute.

Dramatic extra time: losing and then coming back

Paderborn did not give up. They equalized 1-1 in the 90th minute and just 6 minutes after extra time started (96'), Michel put the home team 2-1 up. Leverkusen, on the brink of elimination, showed their mettle in the crucial stage: Quansah equalized 2-2 in the 105+1 minute, opening the way for a comeback.

In the 120+2 minute, Maza coldly decided. In the final phase, the Paderborn goalkeeper pushed forward to find an equalizer, Garcia punished with a quick counter-attack, making it 4-2 in the 120+4 minute.

Tactical angle: discipline, moments and resilience at 19 years old

Paderborn built a tight defense, played fair in the competition and counter-attacked quickly, causing Leverkusen to be suffocated at times. The turning point came from Hjulmand's personnel adjustment and the red card in the 58th minute, helping the away team stretch their opponent's defensive structure. However, Paderborn's ability to transition was still good enough for them to equalize and take the lead in extra time.

The match was ultimately decided by individual quality: Grimaldo's free kick, Quansah's positioning, and especially Maza's control - turn - finish in the 120+2 minute.

Notable numbers

• Score: Paderborn 2-4 Leverkusen (after extra time).
• Red card: Paderborn lost a man from minute 58 (Gotze).
• Dramatic sequence: Paderborn equalized 1-1 in the 90th minute and led 2-1 in the 96th minute before Leverkusen scored 3 goals in extra time (105+1, 120+2, 120+4).
• Best player of the match: Ibrahim Maza (19 years old, Vietnamese origin).
• Leverkusen advance to the round of 16 of the German Cup.

Goals and cards

Score

Red card

Starting lineup

Paderborn:Schubert, Hansen, Gotze, Scheller, Curda, Baur, Engelns, Obermair, Copado, Bilbija, Worner.

Leverkusen:Flekken, Tapsoba, Bade, Belocian, Arthur, Andrich, Garcia, Grimaldo, Hofmann, Ben Seghir, Schick.

A brief profile of Ibrahim Maza

Ibrahim Maza was born in Germany to an Algerian father and a Vietnamese mother. He played for the German U18, U19 and U20 teams. His goal in the 120+2 minute of this match was Maza's first major mark in the German Cup, cementing his status as a symbol of Leverkusen's youthful vitality.