Hamburg – FC St. Pauli did not let SC Paderborn stop them on their desired path to the Bundesliga. The sovereign second division table leader won 2-1 (1-0) against East Westphalia. With seven games remaining, Hamburg are five points ahead of second place Holstein Kiel and eleven points ahead of Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Marcel Hartel, who was once again strong (32nd minute), gave St. Pauli the lead. Lars Ritzka (47th) followed up shortly after the break. Paderborn’s Adriano Grimaldi (56th) managed to connect. A little later, the SC striker was shown yellow-red for repeated foul play. After four games without a win, the guests only have a slim chance of promotion.
The hosts were superior in front of 29,391 spectators and hardly gave their opponents any breathing room. After just 30 seconds, St. Pauli striker Connor Metcalfe had the first shot. The opening goal showed what an exception the Kiez team is this season: Johannes Eggestein played in midfield with a heel to Jackson Irvine, who fit exactly into Hartel’s path. With a lifter he made the combination perfect.
Grimaldi sees yellow-red – St. Pauli wins
Hamburg got off to a great start to the second half after the break. Ritzka (47th) was able to calmly shoot from 19 meters and hit an unstoppable shot. The guests reacted, attacked the Hamburg team earlier – and quickly had success through Grimaldi. Paderborn continued to press, St. Pauli rarely got forward.
Grimaldi (65th) had the chance to equalize. Shortly afterwards he had to leave the pitch early with a yellow-red card. The Hamburg team managed the lead successfully in the end.