SC’s DFB-Pokal campaign comes to an end against Paderborn

This week is the second of three double gameweeks in a row for SC, with a midweek game in the DFB-Pokal. As a result, the coaching staff made five changes from the side who lost narrowly in Leverkusen. Florian Müller came in between the sticks, with Manuel Gulde, Noah Weißhaupt, Junior Adamu and Michael Gregoritsch also slotting into the starting eleven. SC didn’t get off to the start they would’ve hoped for, conceding against their Zweitliga opponents after just four minutes, with Filip Bilbija finishing off a counter for the guests. Müller was fortunately alert to the danger two minutes later, as he was forced off his line to clear a Paderborn through-ball just ahead of an attacker.

Their opponent’s goal didn’t make it any easier, with Paderborn able to sit deep in their own half. Patience was needed. The first chance at goal for SC came after eleven minutes, with Gregoritsch heading a Grifo cross goalwards, but he couldn’t get enough power behind his effort. The guests had most of the possession, while Nicolas Höfler showed his quality on the ball with a couple of neat turns. When the guests had the ball and looked to break forward they provided a threat, with Ritsu Doan forced to clear the danger under pressure within his own box in the 17th minute.

SC search for an equaliser, but Paderborn strike next

In the 25th minute, there was the first murmur, and then almost goal celebration, from the Freiburg fans, with Maximilian Eggestein getting his head up from the byline and pulling it back to the top of the box to Gregoritsch. The Freiburg striker fired goalwards with his right foot, but his effort was saved by Paderborn goalkeeper Pelle Boevink – SC’s best chance of the game so far. Gregoritsch was also involved moments later, getting his head to Weißhaupt’s chipped ball in from the left-hand side, but unable to find the target. Paderborn made it difficult for SC to create really dangerous chances in front of goal.

SC continued to search for a way through, but it was Paderborn that found one. The second goal came in the 33rd minute, with Florent Muslija placing a well-struck freekick over the wall from the edge of the box, giving Müller no chance. It was almost ten minutes before SC had another shot at goal, but Höfler dragged his effort wide of the target. Paderborn were almost always a step ahead of SC, more aggressive in challenges, solid defensively and constantly posed a threat in front of goal. Höfler had to be in the right place at the right time to clear a blocked shot in his own box in the 45th minute.

Paderborn increase their lead, Eggestein powers home

SC also kept searching for a way through in the second half, but Paderborn made use SC’s vulnerabilities at the back to score for the third time in the 56th minute. Paderborn played the ball quickly out wide and it was then crossed in to Bilbija at the backpost who tapped home from close range. At the other end, Doan almost made it 3-1, but Boevink in the Paderborn goal made a strong save to maintain his clean sheet. Doan also did well to beat three men in the box in the 63rd minute, but then the situation was snuffed out, with the guests getting a foot in and winning the ball back, as they did so often this evening.

SC attacked again through Doan in the 67th minute, and this time he got his shot off having cut inside from the right, but his effort went over the target. Eggestein scored to make it 3-1 just two minutes later. Follow a corner, the ball fell to him just inside the box and he drilled it into the top right-hand corner of the goal, in off the underside of the bar. With the fans behind them, SC kept running, with the game taking place almost entirely in the visitor’s half. But in the period following the goal the game calmed down a bit, SC managed to progress the ball up the pitch, but then were just missing that final pass around the penalty area. “We didn’t have enough urgency today and didn’t defend well enough. Obviously we have a lot of double gameweeks, but still we have to play better than we did here today,” said goalscorer Eggestein after the game.

Gregoritsch and Lucas Höler had another couple of good opportunities in the 87th and 88th minute. The Austria international narrowly missed the target with a header, while Höler stretched to get on the end of a cross from Matthias Ginter, but in directing it goalwards it lost a lot of power and was gathered by Boevink. Kenneth Schmidt also had a shot in the 90th minute, but his left-footed shot from the edge of the box was blocked. “Paderborn were livelier today and played smartly. We defended poorly for the goals we conceded, but fought back to try to avoid defeat in the second half,” explained Christian Streich.

After two brilliant cup runs in the previous two seasons, reaching the final in 2022, and then a semi-final in 2023, SC’s journey in the DFB-Pokal this season has come to an all too early end. Streich was disappointment but defended his team. “I don’t blame the boys, we have to build them up. We have lots of injured players, but lots and lots of games. It’s not an excuse, but I knew that games like this would happen.”

Photo: Achim Keller