Paderborn II vs VfB Oldenburg

Oldenburg started brightly and took a deserved lead in the fourth minute. Anouar Adam won the ball high up the pitch, and Vjekoslav Taritas raced through on goal, rounded Paderborn goalkeeper Florian Pruhs and slotted into the empty net.

The lead lasted only four minutes. Alan Takoudjou Somolinos brought Paderborn II level in the eighth minute, and the home side grew into the contest as the half progressed.

Julius Bugenhagen put Paderborn ahead in the 28th minute, cutting in from the right and finding the far corner. Oldenburg had chances of their own — Dominik Kasper fired narrowly over in the 22nd minute, and Linus Schäfer was denied by two defenders after a fine through-ball from Kasper in the 25th minute — but the West Regionalliga side increasingly controlled the midfield.

Deep into first-half stoppage time, the ball struck Dominik Kasper's arm in the box. Referee Lucas Krämer pointed to the spot, and Shkrep Stublla sent goalkeeper Jhonny Peitzmeier the wrong way to make it 3-1 at the break.

Oldenburg had ridden the wave of their early lead and matched Paderborn II for the opening 25 minutes, but the penalty on the stroke of half-time proved decisive. Fossi's side went in at 3-1 rather than 2-1, and the momentum from a strong opening period had evaporated entirely.

Fossi made changes at the break — Drilon Demaj replacing goalscorer Taritas — but the pattern did not shift. Linus Schäfer had Oldenburg's first chance of the second half but fired wide in the 52nd minute, and the game became fragmented as both sides emptied their benches.

A Mats Facklam goal for Oldenburg was disallowed, and Paderborn added two more in the final quarter-hour. Stublla scored his second of the afternoon in the 76th minute, and Noah Jonathan Ringbeck completed the scoring in the 84th.

Shkrep Stublla — Two goals (one penalty, one from open play) and a constant threat. The clear game-changer.

Julius Bugenhagen — His well-taken 28th-minute strike gave Paderborn the lead and shifted the game's momentum decisively.

Vjekoslav Taritas — The bright spot for Oldenburg, taking his early goal with composure and looking lively before being substituted at half-time.

Player of the match: Shkrep Stublla.

The 5-1 scoreline tells a story of two halves, but also of a game that turned on a single refereeing decision. Oldenburg's early goal and chances through Kasper and Schäfer suggest they were competitive for the opening 25 minutes. After the penalty, however, the contest was one-sided. Paderborn's three goals in roughly 15 first-half minutes (from the 28th minute to stoppage time) and two more after the 75th minute point to a team that grew stronger as Oldenburg's legs and organisation faded in high summer temperatures.

For VfB Oldenburg, this is a first defeat of pre-season after six matches in which they had scored 25 goals and conceded only three. The result — and the manner of it — will temper expectations ahead of the Regionalliga Nord campaign, which begins next weekend. Fossi admitted after the match that the team lost the thread collectively, and the analysis of why will shape their final preparations.

Paderborn II, who play in the Regionalliga West, head into their own season-opener with a dominant performance against a side that had been unbeaten all summer.

Oldenburg's next fixture is the Regionalliga Nord season opener (date TBC). Paderborn II continue their pre-season before their Regionalliga West campaign begins.

A decisive reality check for Oldenburg. The early promise of their pre-season form — 25 goals in six games — was built against lesser opposition, and Paderborn II exposed the gap in quality. Fossi's admission that his team 'completely lost the thread' after the opening 15 minutes is honest but worrying. The defensive structure that conceded only three goals in six matches was breached five times in one afternoon. The work before the season starts is clear.

• VfB Oldenburg official match report — "Missglückte Generalprobe"
• NWZ Online — VfB Oldenburg testet beim SC Paderborn II
• Betmana — match provider payload