Leverkusen won 4-2 Paderborn, Maza decided 120+2
Leverkusen were equalized in the 90th minute but came back in extra time at Paderborn. Grimaldo opened the scoring, Maza came on to score in the 120+2 minute and Garcia made it 4-2 in the 120+4 minute, the away team advanced to the German National Cup.
Despite being leveled in the 90th minute and at one point trailing 1-2 in extra time, Bayer Leverkusen still left Paderborn with a 4-2 victory in the second round of the German National Cup, thanks to a goal from substitute Ibrahim Maza in the 120+2 minute and a decisive finish from Aleix Garcia in the 120+4 minute.
Dramatic decision at minute 120+2
With everyone thinking about penalties, Maza's rise from the bench turned the game around. His goal in the 120+2 minute put Leverkusen 3-2 up in the second period of extra time, a blow both in terms of score and morale. Just two minutes later, Aleix Garcia completed the comeback with a goal to make it 4-2.
With a breathtaking pace spanning 120 minutes, this was the kind of victory that bears the mark of character: surviving a 90th-minute goal, being doused with cold water early in extra time, then rising up in the end with quality substitutions.
Key developments: red card, free kick and script reversal
The first half was evenly matched and goalless. The turning point came in the 58th minute when Paderborn's Felix Gotze was shown a straight red card, forcing the home side to play with one less man. Just two minutes later, Alejandro Grimaldo's beautiful free kick opened the scoring for Leverkusen in the 60th minute.
Paderborn fought back strongly despite the numerical disadvantage. In the 90th minute, Stefano Marino headed home an equalizer, taking the match into extra time. The home team even took the lead 2-1 in the 96th minute thanks to Sven Michel, putting Leverkusen in a chasing position.
Right in the first minute of extra time of the first period of extra time (105+1), Jarell Quansah equalized 2-2, keeping hope for the away team before Maza and Garcia decided the outcome in the final minutes of extra time.
Tactical and psychological angle: better than others but not easy to win
The red card in the 58th minute gave Leverkusen a clear advantage in terms of space and pressing, which they capitalized on with a dead ball from Grimaldo. However, the goal conceded in the 90th minute presented a familiar challenge: preserving the advantage in the context of the opponent's all-out attack.
Paderborn, despite being short-handed, fought back with direct attacks and a fighting spirit, leading to a 2-1 lead early in extra time. Leverkusen’s difference came from the bench: substitute Maza came on at the right moment to make it 3-2, before Garcia cemented the win. Discipline in managing the climax of the game saw the visitors through.
Selected statistics and timeline
- First half: even, no goals.
- Minute 58: Felix Gotze received a direct red card.
- Minute 60: Alejandro Grimaldo's free kick opened the score 0-1.
- Minute 90: Stefano Marino headed the ball to equalize 1-1.
- Minute 96: Sven Michel raised the score to 2-1 for Paderborn.
- Minute 105+1: Jarell Quansah equalized 2-2.
- Minute 120+2: Ibrahim Maza puts Leverkusen ahead 2-3.
- Minute 120+4: Aleix Garcia scores 2-4.
Scorers table
| Team | Player | Minute |
|---|---|---|
| Paderborn | Stefano Marino | 90' |
| Paderborn | Sven Michel | 96' |
| Bayer Leverkusen | Alejandro Grimaldo | 60' |
| Bayer Leverkusen | Jarell Quansah | 105+1' |
| Bayer Leverkusen | Ibrahim Maza | 120+2' |
| Bayer Leverkusen | Aleix Garcia | 120+4' |
Impact: A ticket to the next round and a reminder of mental toughness
A 4-2 win after extra time helped Leverkusen qualify for the next round of the German Cup. The comeback scenario on the away field, when they were cornered, was a successful test of their ability to withstand pressure and the quality of their personnel adjustments in the decisive stage.
Final result: Paderborn 2-4 Bayer Leverkusen (after extra time).
