Daniel Ginczek double helps Wolfsburg bring an end to losing streak with 4-2 win in Paderborn
Wolfsburg snapped a three-game losing streak with Daniel Ginczek bagging a brace and Maximilian Arnold curling in a trademark free-kick in a morale-boosting 4-2 win over ten-man Paderborn.
Paderborn 2-4 Wolfsburg
Goals: 1-0 Zolinski (21'), 1-1 Knoche (26'), 1-2 Ginczek (40'), 1-3 Ginczek (60'), 2-3 Vasiliadis (72'), 2-4 Arnold (76')
Red card: Holtmann (35')
Abdelhamid Sabiri, with two goals in his past three appearances, almost continued his purple patch when his placed effort was saved by Koen Casteels after an encouraging opening ten minutes for the hosts, who then had goalkeeper Leopold Zingerle to thank for an instinctive save to deny Admir Mehmedi. Paderborn took a deserved lead midway through the half when Ben Zolinski diverted Christian Strohdiek's header expertly passed Casteels from close range. Their lead lasted less than five minutes, though, when Robin Knoche got the slightest of touches to help Arnold's free-kick on its way past Zingerle. A red card for Gerrit Holtmann followed as the hosts imploded, and Ginczek took advantage to give Wolfsburg the lead, threading his shot just inside Zingerle's near post.
Zolinski missed an opportunity to bring Paderborn level when he took a swing at the ball ten yards from goal, albeit without connecting, before Sebastian Vasiliadis got his laces to the leather minutes later to test Casteels in another bright start from the hosts. They were fighting with one man less, though, and Wolfsburg reminded them of this when Ginczek found himself unmarked to increase their lead on the hour mark. Wolfsburg forgot about their advantage when they gave Vasiliadis acres of room in the centre of the park to drive in a goal which brought the game back to life, albeit only for a matter of minutes. Arnold curled in an unstoppable free-kick to restore the Wolves' two-goal advantage, and end Paderborn's lingering hopes of recovering.
Match stats
- Zolinski has scored in three different games this season, and Paderborn have lost all three.
- Knoche scored his first Bundesliga goal of the season, and it was Wolfsburg's first goal from a free-kick in 2019/20.
- Ginczek scored his first goal of the season and first since Wolfsburg's 8-1 win against Augsburg on Matchday 34 of last season. That was, coincidentally, also the last time Knoche scored.
- Ginczek took just two shots to score two goals and net his first brace since May 2018.
- Arnold scored his third career direct free-kick, while ten of his 26 Bundesliga goals have come from long range.
Watch: Ginczek: "It's always nice to score"
Line-ups
Paderborn: Zingerle – Jans (Hünemeier 46'), Strohdiek, Schonlau (c), Holtmann – Pröger, Sabiri, Vasiliadis, Antwi-Adjei – Srbeny (Michel 74'), Zolinski (Mamba 60')
Unused subs: Huth, Fridjonsson, Ritter, Oeynhausen, Kapic, Evans
Out: Collins (suspended), Dräger (calf), Gjasula (suspended), Killian (hamstring) Michel (groin)
Coach: Steffen Baumgart
Wolfsburg: Casteels – William, Knoche, Pongracic, Roussillon – Schlager, Guilavogui (c) (Gerhardt 84'), Arnold – Steffen, Ginczek (Klaus 74'), Mehmedi (Victor 90+3')
Unused subs: Pervan, Otavio, Brekalo, Mbabu, Brooks, Tisserand
Out: Camacho (ankle), Weghorst (thigh)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
Watch: Hünemeier: "We never give up"
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