Paderborn goalkeeper plays as right winger in frantic final push

Paderborn had pulled one back in the 78th minute to make it 1-2 against Fortuna Düsseldorf, despite being reduced to ten men.

With the clock ticking and their hopes of a result slipping away, the team launched a frantic final push to find an equaliser. But what made the closing stages truly remarkable wasn’t just the intensity it was the sight of 36-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Riemann transforming into a full-fledged outfield player, redefining the very idea of a sweeper keeper.

To compensate for the numerical disadvantage, Riemann stepped well beyond his usual territory. Rather than simply pushing up for corners or set-pieces in the dying moments a relatively common sight he actively integrated himself into open play, functioning almost like a right-sided midfielder or winger. He provided passing options, helped maintain possession in the final third, and even attempted to create chances. His movement and involvement weren’t symbolic or desperate; they were strategic and consistent.

Fortuna Düsseldorf defender André Hoffmann was as surprised as anyone. "If we're being honest, there wasn't really a numerical disadvantage their goalkeeper just took the place of the missing outfield player. It was absolutely bizarre," he told reporters after the match. His comment wasn’t an exaggeration. Riemann’s presence in attack was so constant and purposeful that at times it felt like Paderborn were still playing with eleven.

During two late corners, Riemann positioned himself on the edge of the box, ready to act as a safety net. On one occasion, he calmly collected a clearance and quickly switched play to the left flank. On another, he struck the ball cleanly and powerfully not just back into the danger zone, but directly toward Fortuna goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier. At another point in the match, Riemann was quite literally stationed on the wing, hugging the touchline, where he received the ball and whipped in a cross as if he were a natural right winger.

But there were risks. One near disaster nearly cost his team dearly. While under pressure near the halfway line, Riemann tried to pass the ball back toward his own penalty area a bold move considering there was no one in goal. The pass lacked power, was intercepted by an alert Fortuna player, and was quickly shot toward the empty net. In that split second, the stadium held its breath. To Riemann’s immense relief, the ball rolled just wide of the post. It could have been a humiliating ending to what was otherwise a daring and memorable performance.

A Record-Breaking Shift

Riemann’s all-out involvement wasn’t just symbolic it was historic. According to tracking data, he covered a staggering 7.8 kilometers during the match. That figure sets a new personal best for the goalkeeper and marks the highest distance he has ever run in a Bundesliga or 2. Bundesliga match since such statistics began being recorded. It surpassed his previous record of 7.3 kilometers, which he set in a match between SC Freiburg and VfL Bochum (2-1) last season.

Remarkably, in that same season, Riemann finished as the second-most mobile goalkeeper in German professional football, covering a total of 201.6 kilometers. Only Noah Atubolu of SC Freiburg covered more ground among keepers. To put Riemann’s mobility into perspective, he ran more than high-profile outfield players such as Jamal Musiala and Thomas Müller of Bayern Munich, Donyell Malen (then of Borussia Dortmund), and Victor Boniface, who played a key role in Bayer Leverkusen’s title-winning campaign.

It’s not the first time Riemann has shown a flair for the unconventional. Known for his confident distribution and willingness to play out from the back, he has long been seen as a modern, aggressive goalkeeper but this display against Düsseldorf was something else entirely. It was a rare and entertaining moment where necessity, bravery, and sheer improvisation combined to produce something truly unique.

While Paderborn ultimately couldn’t find the equaliser, Riemann’s performance will live long in the memory of fans not just for the spectacle, but for the courage and energy he brought to a desperate situation. In a sport increasingly defined by structure and tactical discipline, it was a refreshing and chaotic reminder of football’s unpredictable charm.