Against SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Saturday (February 3rd, 2024) FC St. Pauli was ahead by two goals in the 2nd Bundesliga, conceded the equalizer and celebrated in the end. The decisive goal came shortly before the end of the game.
The man of the afternoon was St. Pauli’s Elias Saad, who scored the 3:2 (2:1) winning goal in the 81st minute. He had also previously scored the first goal of the afternoon (30th). Oladapo Afolayan scored Hamburg’s third goal (33′). Armindo Sieb (44th) and Simon Asta (59th) scored for Fürth.
To the live ticker: St. Pauli – Fürth arrow right 20th matchday arrow right
“My team’s reaction to the equalizer was crucial: that they didn’t give in. That they continued to play dominant football, had chances, and were rewarded,” St. Pauli coach Hürzeler told ARD radio. With the victory, league leaders St. Pauli have distanced themselves from pursuers Fürth in the table. After their eleventh win of the season, Hamburg have 42 points, seven more than the game association in third place.
Fürth’s goalkeeper Urbig makes St. Pauli despair
It was the 24th minute in Hamburg when Afolayan had the fifth good chance for FC St. Pauli. But he failed with a low shot past Jonas Urbig. Fürth’s goalkeeper was the best player in the early stages; he had already saved three shots from Johannes Eggestein (15th, 21st, 23rd).
At one point Urbig would have had no chance. That was in the fourth minute when Afolayan headed onto the underside of the crossbar and the ball bounced from there onto the goal line, but not behind the line.
Matthias Dröge, Sportschau, February 3rd, 2024 4:10 p.m
St. Pauli scores twice in just three minutes
When FC St. Pauli took the lead after half an hour, it was deserved. And this time Fürth’s previously strong goalkeeper Urbig didn’t look so good. Urbig blocked a shot from a good 16 meters forward. But in front of him stood Hamburg’s Saad – and the rest was no problem for someone like him.
The second goal for the home team came when Afolayan picked up the pace on the right wing and sprinted into the penalty area. Fürth’s Gideon Jung deflected his shot with his right foot, this time goalkeeper Urbig had no chance to defend.
Seven goals give Fürth courage
The lead for St. Pauli was supposedly clear. Then came the 44th minute and with it the goal for the guests from Franconia. Tim Lemperle fed Sieb, who prevailed against two defenders and then shot. Goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj’s view was blocked and he was unable to prevent the goal.
Until then, Fürth’s coach Alexander Zorniger said in an interview with ARD radio, his team “wasn’t in the game.” That should change.
Ole Zeisler, Sportschau, February 3rd, 2024 4:06 p.m
Asta rewards Fürth’s efforts
At the beginning of the second half, the game association from Fürth acted much more courageously – and was rewarded for it: Asta played on Branimir Hrgota and got the ball back. Asta had two opponents in front of him who blocked his path to the goal.
So he didn’t dribble, he shot. And how. Goalkeeper Vasilj touched his cocking shot with his fingertips, but the ball still landed in the left corner.
Saad makes St. Pauli cheer
In those minutes it seemed as if the encounter could finally tip in Fürth’s favor, but things turned out differently. Aljoscha Kemlein fed Saad, who hit the corner exactly on the left.