Rubin Okotie's hat-trick was not enough for Benno Möhlmann's much-improved 1860 Munich side, as Nick Proschwitz's last-minute equaliser earned SC Paderborn a share of the spoils.
Paderborn's reactions see them deservedly lead
The first half was rather stale compared to what would follow in the second, though Lukas Kruse was forced into a stellar stop from Christopher Schindler's powerful header. However, it would be the hosts that opened the scoring. Süleyman Koc's cross to Srdjan Lakic found the Croatian forward, only to see his effort parried by Vitus Eicher. Luckily for the home side, former 1860 star Moritz Stoppelkamp was on hand to turn home the rebound.
That was the only real action of the first half, but the second more than made up for it. Paderborn started the half as the better side and were duly rewarded with an early goal. Mahir Saglik almost scored a stunning bicycle kick, but a super save from Eicher kept him out. It was the same story as the opening goal, however, as his defence couldn't react quickly enough and Hauke Wahl was able to tap in.
Dramatic end to the match
The second goal saw a spell of four goals in 12 minutes, as Gary Kagelmacher was able to pounce on Lakic's inability to clear and reduce the deficit. A red card would follow not long after, as Richard Neudecker was booked for a second time after bringing down Niklas Hoheneder. The decision was controversial and 1860 were still feeling hard done by when Saglik finally got on the scoresheet with a cracking effort from 25 yards.
It looked like Paderborn were home and draw, but for two goals in nine minutes from Okotie to level the game and leave it on a knife's edge. Two clinical finishes from the Austrian attacker, following some poor Paderborn defending, meant that the match had been turned on its head and the Lions were suddenly on the front foot.
Okotie looked like he'd won the game when he completed a 26 minute hat-trick just two minutes before the end, with a fine strike from just inside the area leaving Kruse with no chance. There would be one final sting in the tail for the visitors, as Proschwitz headed home to secure a draw in an incredible match.