Bundesliga
Abdelhamid Sabiri marked his full Bundesliga debut with his first Bundesliga goal as Paderborn registered their first win of the season – and first in Germany's top flight since 2015 – against Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Paderborn 2-0 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Sabiri (43'), 2-0 Schonlau (64')
With only eight points between them this season at kick-off, the expectation was not exactly to see two sides confidently searching for goals, and form was duly followed with few chances at either end of the field. Indeed, it was not until the 41st minute that either side got a sight of goal, Adam Bodzek leaning back as he struck his shot over the crossbar. While the Fortuna midfielder could have been expected to have done better from near the penalty spot, little could really have been expected of Sabiri when he picked up the ball 25 yards from goal, yet he took aim and lofted an inch-perfect shot into the far corner of Zack Steffen's goal, off the inside of the post, to give the cellar-dwellers the lead just before half-time.
It was a great way to open his account in the Bundesliga, and an ideal time to score too, giving Paderborn a positive feeling to take with them into the interval. They emerged with a spring still in their step too and doubled their lead midway through the second period when Sebastian Schonlau got his head to Kai Pröger's fizzed cross and helped it on its way past the outstretched Steffen. Paderborn were now firmly in control and Mohamed Dräger's shot from distance was touched on by Ben Zolinski with Steffen forced to make an excellent reflex save, although the linesman's flag was raised. At the other end, Leopold Zingerle showed excellent reactions to deny substitute Erik Thommy, and the last line of the Paderborn defence was tested several more times before the hosts were finally able to celebrate their first win of the season, and their first since May 2, 2015.
Paderborn: Zingerle – Dräger, Kilian, Schonlau, Collins – Pröger, Vasiliadis, Gjasula (Michel 78'), Holtmann (Mamba 61') – Sabiri – Zolinski (Antwi-Adjei 64')
Unused subs: Huth, Strohdiek, Cauly, Shelton, Jans, Kapic
Out: Hünemeier (ankle)
Coach: Steffen Baumgart
Düsseldorf: Steffen – Ayhan, Hoffmann (Morales 65'), Adams – Zimmer (Ampomah 74'), Zimmermann, Bodzek, Gießelmann – Tekpetey (Thommy 66'), Kownacki – Hennings
Unused subs: Kastenmeier, Bormuth, Contento, Baker, Sobottka
Out: Barkok (match fitness), Rensing (shoulder), Stöger (match fitness),Suttner (groin), Wolf (inner ear)
Coach: Friedhelm Funkel