Three points and a huge step towards the Bundesliga. After the explosive northern duel with Hansa Rostock (1-0), St. Pauli coach Fabian Hürzeler was particularly pleased about the fact that his team scored one goal to sink the “Kogge”.
After the sensational “open day” against Elversberg two weeks ago (3:4), the Kiezkickers didn’t concede a goal this time, which didn’t mean a high B grade in a 1-0 win, but simply the basis for their 18th win of the season was.
Hürzeler happy after win against Hansa: “That’s the basis”
“I’m pleased that we kept a clean sheet. That is also the basis,” emphasized the coach after the game. After some problems in the first 45 minutes, his team “defended Hansa’s offensive actions really well” in the second half, which his Rostock counterpart Mersad Selimbegovic confirmed with the same words.
One should not ignore the fact that Hansa has by far the weakest offense in the league away from home and has only managed a measly nine goals in 16 games away from home. On Friday evening you could see why. Promising attacks that were poorly finished, plus some weak finishes. St. Pauli doesn’t care.
The clean sheet victory is also thanks to Marco Knoop
White vest! About time again. After four previous games with at least one goal conceded, the Brown-Whites had their first clean sheet against Rostock since the 2-0 win in Nuremberg on March 16th.
Hürzeler expressly praised goalkeeping coach Marco Knoop, who is responsible for the defensive set pieces, which the “Boys in Brown” defended well.
Last but not least, there was St. Pauli’s last man – and at half time their best man. Like a week ago in Hanover, Nikola Vasilj prevented an early deficit with his saves. The Bosnian national goalkeeper is in top form in the crucial phase of the season.
Top form: Teammates celebrate goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj
The brown-white triumph in the highly explosive and important duel against the arch-rivals from the Baltic Sea was also a small anniversary for Vasilj: he was able to keep his box clean for the 10th time this season.
“We can thank Niko again,” said captain and winning goalscorer Jackson Irvine, highlighting the goalkeeper’s performance. Defense chief Hauke Wahl also celebrated the keeper in particular for his great exploits against Perea (19th/33rd): “We are incredibly happy to have him at the back because he can keep holding on to balls like that.” The Kiezkickers say: Thank you, Paw! And they are also relying on their class in the derby against HSV on Friday in the Volkspark.