Report: SC Paderborn vs Leeds United | OneFootball

Pre-season Friendly

SC Paderborn 2 (Grimaldi 74’, Baur 89’)

Leeds United 3 (Piroe 30’, Gnonto 55’, Nmecha 79’)

First Half XI: Darlow (GK), Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Gudmundsson, Ampadu, Stach, Tanaka, James, Piore, Ramazani.

Second Half XI: Meslier (GK) Bogle (Crew 76’), Bijol, Struijk, Byram, Ampadu (Gruev 60’), Stach (Longstaff 60’), Tanaka (Aaronson 60’), Gnonto, Nmecha, Harrison.

Referee: Henry Schröder

Venue: Home Deluxe Arena

Leeds United recorded a second pre-season victory with a 3-2 win over German side SC Paderborn at the Home Deluxe Arena.

Going into the encounter, Daniel Farke named a strong side which included starts for new signings Gabriel Gudmundsson and Jaka Bijol, as well as a first outing for latest recruit Anton Stach.

Clever link up play early on down the right saw Dan James spring in behind latching onto Jayden Bogle’s pass. The Wales international crossed dangerously into the box with the ball narrowly evading the onrushing Joël Piroe.

Moments later, the Whites would go even closer as James flashed a volley wide of the upright, meeting an enticing Gudmundsson delivery from the left flank.

The hosts had started brightly also and Karl Darlow’s services were called upon inside 20 minutes, making a diving save to clutch Laurin Curda’s low strike after a quick break.

Further impressive work at the back from Bijol and Joe Rodon then saw the duo make crucial blocks before Luis Engelns glanced a header over the crossbar.

Farke’s side took the lead on the half hour mark in clinical fashion through Piroe. Fantastic reading of the play from Rodon led to an interception deep inside the home team’s half, landing at the feet of Stach.

Driving to the edge of the area, the midfielder fizzed a pass into Piroe who, ignoring the overlapping run of Largie Ramazani, drilled low beyond Dennis Seimen and into the bottom corner!

One would have become two shortly afterwards if not for Seimen who made a fine sprawling save at the back post to parry Piroe’s first-time effort.

Keen to wrestle back some of the momentum, Paderborn piled bodies forward on the break and Curda almost had a sight of goal, only for the retreating Gudmundsson to mop up the danger.

HALF TIME: SC Paderborn 0-1 Leeds United

Leeds emerged from the break having made six changes to the personnel, including a new-look attack with Lukas Nmecha leading the line.

Moments into the second period, substitute Pascal Struijk headed narrowly over the upright, meeting fellow half-time addition Jack Harrison’s out-swinging cross.

Nmecha then raced away in pursuit of a chipped Harrison pass over the top but Seimen was alert and charged out to hack clear.

The second arrived five minutes before the hour mark and United’s clinical fashion was once more on display as Gnonto fired an inch-perfect effort into the bottom corner.

The Italian had initially done superbly to intercept a loose Paderborn pass. Driving inside, the attacker skipped past a man before unleashing a rasping drive from distance that arrowed into the back of the net!

Seimen’s busy afternoon continued as he showed great reflexes to prevent Nmecha from adding a third from close range. Calvin Brackelmann was next to intervene for the hosts, blocking a powerful Bijol volley from a subsequent corner.

Ralf Kettemann’s team did pull a goal back 15 minutes from time through Adriano Grimaldi but no sooner had the hosts grabbed a lifeline, the two-goal lead had been restored.

Harrison’s dangerous delivery was headed towards goal by Struijk and looked comfortable for Seimen to gather, only for the keeper to spill the ball and allow Nmecha to tap home from a yard out.

Paderborn grabbed a second through Mika Baur in the dying moments before the full-time whistle sounded, bringing a valuable work out for Farke’s squad to a close.

FULL TIME: SC Paderborn 2-3 Leeds United