Eintracht Frankfurt is off to a good start in the Bundesliga and can rely on its top striker again in the away win at FC St. Pauli, despite transfer rumors. To start the new year, Eintracht won 1-0 (1-0) against St. Pauli on matchday 16.
The decisive goal was scored by Manchester City courted Omar Marmoush (32nd minute). After five winless competitive games at the end of the year, Frankfurt is back on track and maintains its third place with one match day before the end of the first half of the season. “After December it feels really good, even if it wasn’t really easy“said Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp to the Sportschau.
St. Pauli remains stuck in 14th place after their sixth home defeat. “You can compliment the team, but when you lose it’s always a crappy feeling“, admitted St. Pauli coach Alexander Blessin in the Sportschau interview. “We had a lot of chances and invested everything. What was missing was the goal.“
Early double chance for Frankfurt’s Marmoush
Frankfurt initially got off to a better start at the Millerntor – and especially Marmoush. After four minutes, the Egyptian had already tested St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj twice. The guests controlled the game, St. Pauli was waiting for a counterattack and had a great chance to take the lead with their first shot on goal.
Boris Poscharsky, Sportschau, January 11, 2025 6:45 p.m
After a pass from Oladapo Afolayan, Morgan Guilavogui (25′) got his foot on the ball in the six-yard box, but couldn’t control the shot and so the ball sailed over the goal. Frankfurt also missed its first 100% chance when Hugo Ekitiké (29th) suddenly found himself free in front of Vasilj after a ricochet in the St. Pauli defense, went around the keeper and then hit the post from half-right from seven meters.
Marmoush took the lead against St. Pauli
A few later Marmoush showed how to solve such a situation. After a rebound, the ball jumped to the feet of the Eintracht goalscorer on the right side of the six-yard box. After a short swing, he chased the ball into the far corner at the top left to make it 1-0. “You just saw his top class again“, praised Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller. For Marmoush it was the 19th goal of the season across all competitions.
However, St. Pauli did not let this discourage them. On the contrary: in the phase after falling behind, the hosts built up pressure. Jackson Irvine (39th) missed the possible equalizer from seven meters because he was too surprised that the ball jumped at his feet. Shortly afterwards, Robin Koch was just able to block a shot from Carlo Boukhalfa (40th) in the penalty area.
Boris Poscharsky, Sportschau, January 11, 2025 6:48 p.m
Aluminum hits on both sides
Things got even closer in stoppage time when Boukhalfa (45’+2) only hit the right post from 15 meters. St. Pauli was in the game and carried the momentum into the second half. Manolis Saliakas (52nd) fired the first warning shot, but Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp turned it around the post.
The spectators at Millerntor were treated to an intense and offensive game. St. Pauli courageously sought its opportunities. Frankfurt was waiting for switching moments. Rasmus Kristensen (64th) could have used one of them to score Eintracht’s second goal. But the Dane hit a pass from Ekitiké from a tight angle from the right onto the crossbar.
Overall, St. Pauli had more of the game in the second half and really threw everything forward in the final phase. Scott Banks (83′) still had a great opportunity. But the substitute Scot also hit the crossbar with an artistic touch at the second post. The fourth aluminum goal of the game. In the end, the North Germans had the better record at this point with 20:14 shots on goal – but the points account was still not topped up and the guests were able to celebrate thanks to Marmoush.
St. Pauli in Bochum, Frankfurt against Freiburg
In the English week, St. Pauli will play at bottom team VfL Bochum on Wednesday evening (January 15, 2025) (6:30 p.m.). Frankfurt welcomes SC Freiburg the evening before (8:30 p.m.).