An undeserving RB Leipzig found themselves level at half-time. Süleyman Koç had opened the scoring with a 35-yard lob, but for Anthony Jung's deflected costless-kick to bring the hosts level. A poor second period followed, with extra-time required to separate the teams. Substitute Clemens Fandrich's scruffy and scrappy goal then won the game for Leipzig, a poor goal for Paderborn to concede, but the home side were in dreamland.
RB Lepizig sit atop the 2.Bundesliga after two matchdays. The East German club, much maligned for their very existence, enjoyed a spectacular rise up the footballing pyramid in Germany. A draw and a win against VfR Aalen and 1860 Munich have given fans hope of a fourth promotion in six seasons. The promising start has been without star-striker Terrance Boyd, with the former Borussia Dortmund striker missing with a knee injury. Yussuf Poulsen and captain Daniel Frahn have filled in brilliantly for the American, one of many big signings of the summer. Rani Khedira, Marcel Sabitzer and €9million man Massimo Bruno have all been recruited, but only Khedira has remained. Sami's brother retained his place in the starting eleven, as did the entire team that started in the 3-1 win against 1860.
Paderborn earned promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time last season and have kept a largely similar side to that which earned them their place at the plateau of German football. Marvin Ducksch has signed on loan from BVB; with Borussia Mönchengladbach's Lukas Rupp and Elias Kachunga arriving permanently, too. A difficult season awaits for André Breitenreiter's men and thankfully, so far, they have no injury concerns heading into the new season. None of the aforementioned players would make their debut, however. Stefan Kutschke and Moritz Stoppelkamp were selected and made their first appearance for the Westphalians.
The first fifteen minutes were a poor affair and lacked any quality. The only real chance, which is stretching the truth at best, was when Benjamin Bellot was called upon to parry away Stefan Kutschke's cross. Moritz Stoppelkamp was then denied by a combination of the bar and Bellot, with the attacker's volley brilliantly denied by the Leipzig 'keeper and the woodwork. Paderborn, understandably, were having the better of the early chances and it was Süleyman Koç who opened the scoring.
A long ball forward from goalkeeper Lukas Kruse found the dangerous Kutschke; he headed down to Koç, who took a touch and stroked home a 35-yard chip. An opportunistic strike caught Bellot well off his line, many will question the goalkeeper's positioning, as the ball sailed over his head and into the goal. Minimal pressure after the goal was all RB Leipzig could muster, with the hosts looking slightly shell-shocked after conceding.
Paderborn were well worth their lead, yet minutes before half-time, they conceded. Anthony Jung stood over a central 30-yard costless-kick, the initial shot would have barely troubled Kruse, only for a huge deflection to send the ball and goalkeeper in opposing directions. Paderborn's 'keeper just couldn't recover a lost cause, meaning Jung and RB Leipzig had a foothold in the game. However, the hosts almost found themselves behind for a second time, but for Kutschke to blaze a chip well over the bar.
Paderborn almost restored their lead, just thirty seconds after the re-start. Süleyman Koç was proving to be a real thorn in the home team's side and forced a good save from Benjamin Bellot. Leipzig were fortunate the ball didn't fall to Stefan Kutschke, but Georg Tiegl was there to clear. Koç was the only bright spark in an otherwise lacklustre period, similar to the beginning of the first-half, but Bellot was equal to another one of his powerful drives. There was a brief moment of excitement in the 70th minute, as Rani Khedira's drive created bedlam in the box. After several poor hacked clearances, the ball was finally knocked away from danger.
Injuries plagued the half, with: Yussuf Poulsen, Mario Vrančić and Stefan Kutschke were all tended to by their respective medical staff. Thankfully for both sides, the players were able to continue. Daniel Frahn was substituted for Matthias Morys, a third goalless game for the captain and Lukas Rupp came on for a very quiet Marvin Bakalorz. Vrančić's terrible costless-kick delivery, from a promising position, summed up a game that was lacking in quality. Without a winner in normal time, extra-time beckoned.
The first period passed by with little to comment on, apart from Yussuf Poulsen's powerful run being excellently stopped by Uwe Hünemeier. Just as it looked like the game would never see a winning goal, Joshua Kimmich drove down the right-hand side. The Under-19 European Champion picked out Matthias Morys, his shot was blocked and he then blocked Clemens Fandrich's shot on the ground. Little did he know that the ball had fallen perfectly for the substitute and he prodded past an unsighted Lukas Kruse to win the game.
In truth, it was a game that neither side deserved to win. Lacking quality and drive from the first whistle, Süleyman Koç was the only player to light up an otherwise dull game. Paderborn will hope to improve upon a poor loss against a similarly struggling Mainz side. The sky is the limit for RB Leipzig, however. They seem to have the knack of grinding out results in the face of adversity and could, very possibly, be joining the Bundesliga next year. Clemens Fandrich's goal was yet more evidence of that and when Terrance Boyd returns, they'll have even more firepower.