Kwasniok challenges Ansah: “Then he has a great future ahead of him”

Paderborn coach Lukas Kwasniok with his youngster Ilyas Ansah.
picture alliance/dpa

“We don’t have to be ashamed or apologize for the win today,” Paderborn coach Lukas Kwasniok quickly said in defense. The duel against Hannover 96 was an “open, even game,” “both teams played with open minds and took a certain risk.” He was therefore “very, very happy” with the 2-1 victory, said the 43-year-old.

While the first half was balanced in all relevant statistics – including those on the scoreboard after Koen Kostons scored once in both goals – the second half went more to Hannover. But against their favorite opponents (eight wins and only one defeat in eleven matches), the East Westphalians once again emerged victorious and are therefore still undefeated in the still young season. On Friday evening they had two players to thank for this.

“Took out one or two unstoppable ones”

The opponents themselves made the first one. In his anger over the many missed chances, 96 defender Phil Neumann singled out SCP goalkeeper Pelle Boevink in particular. “The Paderborn keeper also saved one or two unstoppable chances today,” said the 27-year-old appreciatively.

And it was true, the 26-year-old goalkeeper showed his class after just seven minutes with a free kick from Enzo Leopold and was then repeatedly on hand with strong saves and quick reflexes on the line – the quickest of which came in the 67th minute with a powerful header from Nicolo Tresoldi.

“Actually wanted to change an action before”

Because Boevink drove the Hannover strikers to despair at the back, someone else was able to emerge as the match winner. It was youngster Ilyas Ansah, who completed a strong solo effort to score the winning goal and crowned his debut in the starting eleven this season.

And that was despite the fact that he actually shouldn’t have been involved at all. “I actually wanted to change an action earlier, I shouldn’t have been on the field at that point,” laughed Kwasniok after the final whistle and added: “We had luck on our side.”

Strong solo crowned: Ilyas Ansah scores to make it 2-1.
picture alliance/dpa

However, the coach was not entirely satisfied with his U-20 national player: “He worked very hard and well against the ball today and helped the team a lot. But to be honest, he wasn’t good at all with the ball.”

Kwasniok was therefore all the more pleased with the “sensational individual action” in which Ansah tunnelled Neumann on his way to the goal. “I’m happy for him because he hasn’t let up for months.” Now it’s time to work on “consistency in actions with the ball,” said Kwasniok, who said: “If Ansah can do that, then he has a great future ahead of him.”