Burkina Faso international Edmond Tapsoba scored twice to help Bayer Leverkusen recover from a two-goal deficit and secure a 5-2 victory over FC Nürnberg in the second round of the German Cup on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
Leverkusen were in trouble after conceding twice in the first half, but the defender’s goals brought the hosts level and helped inspire a dramatic turnaround at the BayArena.
Nürnberg had taken control of the tie through Rafael Lubach and Sigurd Haugen, who scored in the 13th and 30th minutes respectively. However, Tapsoba reduced the deficit shortly before half-time before equalising four minutes after the interval.
Leverkusen subsequently completed the comeback, scoring three more goals to win 5-2 and book their place in the next round of the competition.
The result marked a significant contribution from Tapsoba, who opened his goalscoring account for the season with his brace. The Burkina Faso defender proved central to his side’s recovery in a knockout match that had initially appeared to be slipping away from them.
Tapsoba gives Leverkusen hope
Leverkusen’s evening began in disappointing fashion as Nürnberg took advantage of their opportunities to establish a commanding lead.
Lubach put the visitors ahead in the 13th minute, giving the hosts an early setback. Haugen then increased Nürnberg’s advantage in the 30th minute, leaving Leverkusen two goals behind and facing the prospect of an early German Cup exit.
With their opponents in a strong position, Leverkusen needed a response before the break. Tapsoba provided it in the 41st minute, converting from an Aleix García corner to bring his team back into contention.
The defender directed the ball into the net with his shoulder, reducing Nürnberg’s lead to 2-1 and giving Leverkusen renewed belief heading into half-time.
His first goal proved important in changing the mood of the contest, ensuring that the home side remained within reach of their opponents despite a difficult opening period.
Tapsoba then delivered again soon after the restart. In the 49th minute, he found the net for a second time, bringing the score to 2-2 and wiping out Nürnberg’s two-goal advantage.
The equaliser completed a remarkable personal contribution from the Burkina Faso international, whose two strikes transformed the situation for Leverkusen in the space of eight minutes.
Leverkusen complete the turnaround
With the scores level, Leverkusen continued their push for the lead and eventually took control of the match.
The German side added three further goals to finish with a 5-2 victory, confirming their progression to the next round of the cup.
The win represented a strong recovery after the home team had been placed under considerable pressure by Nürnberg’s first-half performance. Rather than allowing the visitors’ early advantage to determine the outcome, Leverkusen responded through Tapsoba before building on the momentum created by his equaliser.
For Tapsoba, the performance was particularly notable because it delivered his first goals of the campaign. The defender’s brace also demonstrated his influence beyond his defensive responsibilities, with both goals arriving at crucial moments in the match.
His opening strike gave Leverkusen a route back into the contest before half-time, while the second ensured that the hosts entered the final stages of the comeback on level terms.
Although Leverkusen ultimately scored five goals, Tapsoba’s intervention was central to the turnaround, helping his side recover from a difficult start and regain control of the tie.
The 5-2 victory secured Leverkusen’s place in the next round of the German Cup and made Tapsoba one of the principal figures in the match. After falling two goals behind, the hosts responded with five unanswered goals to complete an impressive comeback and keep their cup campaign moving forward.
