Wolfsburg got off to the worst possible start when Dzenan Pejcinovic opened the scoring just three minutes into the match, capitalizing on a pass from Adam Daghim. However, the Wolves’ early advantage quickly unraveled. Joakim Maehle received two yellow cards in rapid succession—first in the 11th minute, then again in the 14th—leaving his team with ten men and shifting the momentum firmly in Paderborn’s favor.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Wolfsburg managed to maintain their lead for nearly 30 minutes. But at the 38-minute mark, Paderborn equalized through Filip Bilbija, who rose highest from a long throw-in to head the ball past Kamil Grabara, who had been outstanding in goal.

With Lovro Majer sidelined for the clash, Paderborn relentlessly attacked the Wolfsburg goal, testing Grabara at every turn. The deadlock persisted until the final whistle, forcing the match into extra time. Just ten minutes into the additional period, the pressure finally told. A cross from the left found Laurin Curda unmarked in the box, and with a calm finish, he slotted the ball past Grabara to seal the upset.

Shell-shocked, the Wolfsburg players could only watch as Paderborn secured a historic victory. The result means Wolfsburg will play in Germany’s second tier next season—a first in nearly three decades. Meanwhile, Paderborn will celebrate their first Bundesliga campaign since 2019-20 after pulling off one of the competition’s most surprising upsets.