Defied home weakness
©IMAGO
FC St. Pauli celebrated a significant success in the Bundesliga relegation battle thanks to its double goalscorer Morgan Guilavogui. In the duel between their table neighbors, the Hanseatic League defied their home weakness and defeated 1. FC Union Berlin 3-0 (1-0). The Frenchman Guilavogui, who moved to the Kiez club in the summer (31st minute/51st), delighted the home fans among the 29,546 spectators in the Millerntor Stadium with his two goals. Danel Sinani scored the final goal (90+3).
Hamburg, who only won their second win at home, moved level on points with Union in the table and extended their lead over the relegation zone to six points. The club from the capital remained pale for long stretches and failed to clearly distance themselves from the bottom of the table. Under Steffen Baumgart, the balance since his commitment to the new year is: three defeats, one win.
Baumgart’s colleague Alexander Blessin was pleased to be able to rely on the offensive player Elias Saad, who had been missing from the squad since the beginning of October. Oladapo Afolayan also sat next to him on the bench. The duo helped the Hanseatic League to promotion last season. However, Blessin started on the left wing with the nimble winter signing Noah Weißhaupt.
Baumgart relied on the team that had recently beaten Mainz 2-1. Including Aljoscha Kemlein. The highly gifted 20-year-old midfielder returned to his former employer. In the second half of the 2023/24 season he was loaned out to the Kiez club – and became a top performer there in the promotion season.
Both teams seemed aware of the looming points against a competitor and started actively. However, there were initially no significant chances to score. Nevertheless, the game was not lacking in fiery duels and the necessary mentality.
After just over 26 minutes the game got its deserved first big chance. Thanks to the hosts: Guilavogui hit the crossbar with his attempt and missed the opening goal. Shortly afterwards, captain Jackson Irvine tested Union goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow.
Both Hamburgers were then involved in the opening goal. The Australian international Irvine put his teammate in the spotlight with a clever pass. And Guilavogui scored the first goal of the evening with a powerful shot from a tight angle. The official league portal stated a shot speed of 106.89 kilometers per hour.
The Berliners started the second half furiously. St. Pauli’s Hauke Wahl threw himself into Jordan, who was standing clear of the goal, and directed the ball next to the goal. Shortly after an offensive action by the guests, the Hanseatic team switched gears far too quickly for the poorly staggered Union defense.
The strong Johannes Eggestein served the completely free Guilavogui, who easily scored the second goal. Afolayan had the chance to save Hamburg’s nerves in the final phase, but he missed in the 82nd with a lob from close range. The guests, for their part, were especially dangerous in standard situations, but it wasn’t enough for former striker Baumgart’s team to score. Instead, St. Pauli scored again in stoppage time.