VfL Wolfsburg dropped points as newly promoted SC Paderborn 07 snatched a 1-1 draw. Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach shared the spoils as well to close the 15th round in Bundesliga.
Wasteful Wolfsburg were held to a 1-1 draw Sunday night with Paderborn on home soil. The "Wolves" dominated the game for most of the time but Paderborn punished the poor chance conversion of the hosts. Nevertheless, Paderborn's goalkeeper Lukas Kruse played a key role in his side's draw as he denied a penalty and many promising Wolfsburg chances, reports Xinhua.
From the kick-off, Wolfsburg took control but Paderborn implemented a passive wait-and-see strategy. However, it took the "Wolves" 17 minutes into the game before they opened the scoring, but that was thanks to the own-goal by Rafael Lopez Gomez, who cleared a header by Wolfsburg's Vieirinha into his own goal.
With the lead behind them, Wolfsburg remained in control of the proceedings. They even had a chance to double the lead at the half hour mark as Paderborn's defender Christian Strohdiek brought down Bas Dost inside the box to cause a penalty. But goalkeeper Lukas Kruse saved Ivan Persic's weak shot into the bottom left.
The hosts continued with their powerful performance and they were rewarded just before the break when Bas Dost slotted home a deep square pass. However, referee Manuel Graefe, who saw a foul play prior to the goal, denied the 2-0 lead.
Paderborn shocked the hosts after the break as referee Graefe awarded the visitors a penalty, following a foul by Naldo. Paderborn's Alban Meha stepped up and restored parity at the 51st minute.
Wolfsburg continued to play well but all their efforts remained fruitless as Paderborn's goalkeeper Kruse was on guard, helping his squad to snatch a draw.
With the third draw of the season, second-placed Wolfsburg fall behind nine points adrift of front-runners Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Paderborn remain on the 10th place.
Elsewhere, Leverkusen and Monchengladbach also shared the spoils following 1-1 draw. Leverkusen took the lead through Hakan Calhanoglu, who slotted home with a long-range shot into the top left corner in the 18th minute.
Monchengladbach recovered from the deficit five minutes before the break as Roel Bouwers tapped in Thorgan Hazard's corner cross into the box to level the scores.
With the result both sides climb up in the standings. Leverkusen jumped on the third place whereas Monchengladbach moved to the fourth position.
