For both teams, the last game of the season on Sunday afternoon was all about saying goodbye to the season properly. FC St. Pauli wanted to celebrate their 112th birthday with a win. Fortuna wanted to expand their series of twelve games without defeat in a row.
Both coaches rotated vigorously. St. Pauli coach Timo Schultz called up seven new players in the starting XI, guest coach Daniel Thioune made six changes. Among other things, Rouwen Hennings was allowed to play his 200th competitive game for the Rhinelanders from the start.
Committed and with the courage to go on the offensive, both Hamburg and Düsseldorf quickly made it clear that they wanted to end the season with a win. The hosts gained a visual advantage, but there was little that was compelling on either side in front of the opposing goal. Bitter for the guests: Coach Thioune had to change after just thirteen minutes. Central defender Christoph Klarer was unable to continue after a collision with Marcel Hartel and was replaced by Jakub Piotrowski.
Contested, but hardly any chances to score
Since most of the action took place between the penalty areas and the momentum from the early stages of the game gradually waned, it was not surprising that the best chance of the first half came from a long-range shot.
Ritzka tested Fortuna’s keeper Raphael Wolf from 25 meters out, who parried the well-placed low shot and steered it around the right post (38′). The goalless draw went into the break.
Dream goal by Hartel
After the change, the game continued as the first half had ended, but without any notable highlights. As the game progressed, the game developed in the direction of summer football. That changed in the 65th minute: to the cheers of the already cheerful crowd, Hartel completed a back pass from the penalty spot from a central position of 16 meters into the right angle, which is well worth seeing.
After that, two substitutions in particular drew applause from the stands. The two longest-serving players at Hamburg, Philipp Ziereis (since 2013) and Christopher Buchtmann (since 2012), whose expiring contracts were not renewed, were greeted with great applause from the ranks.