St. Pauli break Kiel hearts late on in relegation battle | OneFootball

St. Pauli snatch dramatic victory in relegation six-pointer at Holstein Kiel

St. Pauli claimed a huge three points in a dramatic 2-1 win over Holstein Kiel in a tense Bundesliga relegation scrap. Goals from Alexander Bernhardsson and Danel Sinani looked certain to earn both sides a point, before heartbreak at the death for Kiel gave Pauli a huge boost in their fight for survival.

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Holstein Kiel 1-2 St. PauliGoals: 1-0 Berhardsson 21’ (assist: Gigović), 1-1 Sinani 34’, 1-2 Geschwill o.g. 90‘+2

In a high-stakes relegation battle at the Holstein-Stadion, St. Pauli emerged victorious with a dramatic 2-1 win over Holstein Kiel, dealing a significant blow to the hosts' survival hopes. The match was a true six-pointer, with Kiel desperate to close the four-point gap to the relegation play-off spot, whilst St. Pauli sought to extend their cushion above the danger zone. Marcel Rapp's Kiel side, having won just one of their last 11 games, faced a St. Pauli team under Alexander Blessin who had triumphed in all of their last four meetings against the Storks.

Alexander Bernhardsson (l.) and Magnus Knudsen (r.) celebrate Kiel's opening goal, giving the hosts a surprise lead against the run of play. (IMAGO/Jasper Lorenz)

Kiel strike first against the run of play

Despite St. Pauli's early dominance, it was the hosts who drew first blood. In the 21st minute, Alexander Bernhardsson stunned the visitors with a precision finish from the edge of the box, curling the ball into the bottom left corner. The goal, coming from Kiel's first shot of the match, was a testament to their clinical efficiency, even if it went against the run of play. St. Pauli, however, refused to be deterred and continued to press for an equaliser. The hosts came close to adding a second in the 38th minute too, when Nicolai Remberg's header rattled the crossbar, leaving Pauli breathing a sigh of relief.

Danel Sinani was quickest to react to the rebound to level the scores for St. Pauli. (IMAGO/Fernando Soares)

Sinani levels amidst controversy

The equaliser came in the 34th minute, albeit shrouded in controversy. A cross into the box led to a collision between St. Pauli's Oladapo Afolayan and Kiel's goalkeeper Thomas Dähne. As Dähne spilled the ball, Danel Sinani was quickest to react, smashing home into an empty net. Despite vehement protests from the Kiel players claiming a foul on their keeper, the goal stood, bringing the scores level at 1-1. The physical nature of the game evidently picked up thereafter, with David Nemeth of St. Pauli receiving a yellow card in the 37th minute for a foul on Kiel's Shuto Machino.

Second half stalemate

The second half saw both teams adopt a more cautious approach, with the fear of conceding seemingly outweighing the desire to find a winner. Chances were at a premium as the midfield battle intensified, with Jackson Irvine and Remberg epitomising the fierce contest in the centre of the park. The physical nature of the game continued, with several players from both sides receiving yellow cards. Marko Ivezić of Kiel was booked in the 60th minute, followed by his teammate Phil Harres in the 77th. St. Pauli's Hauke Wahl also saw yellow in the 82nd minute, while Kiel's Marvin Schulz was cautioned in the 86th.

Late drama seals St. Pauli victory

However, the match had one final twist in store. Deep into stoppage time, St. Pauli launched a last-ditch attack. In the 92nd minute, a shot from Noah Weißhaupt was initially saved by Dähne, but the follow-up attempt caused chaos in the Kiel box. In a cruel twist of fate, Max Geschwill, in his desperate attempt to clear the ball off the line, only succeeded in turning it into his own net. The last-gasp own goal handed St. Pauli a dramatic 2-1 victory, sending their travelling supporters into raptures and leaving the Holstein-Stadion in stunned silence.

Player of the Match: Danel Sinani

While several players put in noteworthy performances, Sinani stood out as the key figure for St. Pauli. Not only did he score the crucial equaliser, but his overall contribution to the team's attacking play was significant. Sinani's ability to find space and create chances kept the Kiel defence on their toes throughout the match. His goal, coming at a critical juncture, changed the complexion of the game after Kiel were lifted by their opener. The forward's performance was further underlined by his impressive pass efficiency of +2.74 - the highest in the match - showcasing his importance to St. Pauli's build-up play and attacking threat.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: Kiel 0.35 - St. Pauli 1.71Fastest player: Oladapo Afolayan (St. Pauli), 34.02 km/hLowest goal probability: 1-0 by Alexander Bernhardsson (Kiel), 9.63 percentMost pressed player: Armin Gigović (Kiel), 17 times under pressurePass efficiency: Danel Sinani (St. Pauli), +2.74

Fantasy Heroes: Alexander Bernhardsson (Kiel, 227 Points), Danel Sinani (St. Pauli, 214 Points), Adam Dźwigała (St. Pauli, 214 Points)

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