FC St. Pauli celebrated their second success in a row with their home win against FC Union Berlin and moved past the Köpenickers in the Bundesliga relegation battle. The Kiezkickers defeated “Die Eisernen” 3-0 (1-0) and increased the gap to the relegation place to six points.
Morgan Guilavogui celebrated two goals (31st, 51st), the final point was scored in stoppage time by Danel Sinani, who had recently been substituted (90th +3).
Irvine directs his St. Paulian
Jackson Irvine was the decisive player on St. Pauli’s side. He missed the first chance to score of the game in the 29th minute when he was denied by Union keeper Alexander Schwolow. However, his action woke up the people of Hamburg. Because a little later, the supporters of FC St. Pauli should be celebrating.
After winning the ball in midfield, the brown-shirted players let the ball run: Johannes Eggestein let the ball bounce, Irvine sent the ball beautifully to the starting Guilavogui, who hammered the ball under the crossbar from a half-right position in the penalty area.
Union couldn’t find an answer against the pressing St. Paulians and were lucky when Eggestein missed two good chances shortly before the half-time whistle. The only shot on goal that the guests were able to record in the first half of the game was completely missed by the winning goal scorer from the first leg, Benedikt Hollerbach.
Union after the break with commitment
The guests from Köpenick came out of the dressing room with a lot of commitment. With Berlin’s high press, Ivine made a big mistake in the build-up, which put Sibatcheu in a good finishing position. But his finish was far too weak, Hauke Wahl was able to block the shot attempt (48th).
Almost in return, the home team did a lot better. This time Eggestein served the central Guilavogui, Schwolow was overcome for the second time with the precise and hard low shot.
Berlin and happiness
Hollerbach was once again left to celebrate the goal when a shot from the left from a tight angle shot just over the home team’s goal (59th). Union coach Steffen Baumgart now substituted almost all of the offensive power he still had on the bench: Yorbe Vertessen and Kevin Volland came into the Berlin game.
But again it was St. Pauli that achieved something notable. Noah Weißhaupt stole the ball from Janik Haberer and moved into the penalty area from the left. Juranovic deflected his shot with his calf, so that the ball turned into a dangerous arc lamp. The ball flew over Schwolow and then hit the right post.
In the final phase there was almost no sign of Berlin’s offensive spirit. Symptomatic: A shot attempt by Hollerbach veered towards the right corner flag. Alexander Danel Sinani celebrated his first Bundesliga goal in stoppage time.
St. Pauli against Augsburg, Union against Leipzig
St. Pauli has another home game next week. On Saturday (February 1, 2025) we face FC Augsburg (3:30 p.m.). On the same day from 6.30 p.m. Union Berlin will welcome its guests from RB Leipzig.