The almost uncanny series of FC St. Pauli

The wonderful journey of FC St. Pauli under its new coach Fabian Hürzeler continues. With the 2:1 (0:1) win at 1. FC Magdeburg, the Hamburg second division soccer club celebrated their fourth win in the fourth game under the direction of the 29-year-old. Jackson Irvine's header (74') and Jakov Medic (88') turned the game around after Baris Atik (39') put the hosts ahead in front of a crowd of 24,278. With 29 points, Hamburg improved to eighth place.

"I'm happy that my team showed morale and had faith in themselves," said Hürzeler after a good and intense second division game. At half-time, his team resolved to continue down this path full of conviction. Hürzeler: "We were then very present and consistent in the box and played it well to the end in the last third."

St. Pauli's coach had to rebuild his team compared to previous games. Jannes Wieckhoff came on on the right-hand side for the suspended Manolis Saliakas. In the center of defense Betim Fazliji replaced the recently strong Eric Smith. The Swede had to sit out at short notice due to muscular problems.

Hamburg had the better start to the game. In the 13th minute, Connor Metcalfe, who had already scored the winning goal against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, put the ball just wide after good preparation by Oladapo Afolayan. Hürzeler: "We played what we set out to do."

Magdeburg, the weakest team in the league at home, remained dangerous. Moritz Kwarteng tested the St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj (17th) after a counterattack. As a result, the dribbling strong Atik in particular presented the guests' defense with some problems. So it was not surprising that the 28-year-old attacker gave Magdeburg the lead with a fine flick from the edge of the penalty area.

Early in the second half, Hürzeler brought on attacker Maurides to have a target player on offense. The Kiezkicker's Brazilian winter signing had their first notable opportunity with a header (55'), but it was safely thwarted by Magdeburg keeper Dominik Reimann. In the 72nd minute, Maurides fired the ball well over the goal from about six yards out.

Irvine did better, heading home a deserved equalizer from a Leart Paqarada corner. St. Pauli stayed on the offensive and was rewarded with Medic's winning goal, which Marcel Hartel had prepared perfectly. The defender ventured into the opponent's penalty area because of a set piece – and demonstrated his technical qualities there.