Bundesliga
St. Pauli secured just their second win back in the Bundesliga with a stunning 2-0 away victory against Hoffenheim on Matchday 9, thanks to goals from Oladapo Afolayan and Andreas Albers.
Hoffenheim 0-2 St. Pauli
Goals: 0-1 Afolayan 20‘ (assist: Irvine), 0-2 Albers 90+3’ (assist: Irvine)
The PreZero Arena set the stage for an enthralling Bundesliga clash as Hoffenheim welcomed St. Pauli, with both sides eager to bounce back from goalless draws in their previous outings. Hoffenheim coach Pellegrino Matarazzo had warned against underestimating the visitors, acknowledging their adaptability and cohesion as a unit. St. Pauli's coach Alexander Blessin, meanwhile, expressed confidence in his team's chances, despite recognising Hoffenheim's individual quality.
The home side burst out of the blocks, immediately asserting their dominance in possession. Within the opening minutes, Marius Bülter came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock, narrowly missing a pinpoint cross from Valentin Gendrey. Hoffenheim continued to probe, with Andrej Kramarić orchestrating play and Adam Hložek testing Nikola Vasilj with a tame header. Despite their control, clear-cut chances remained at a premium against a disciplined St. Pauli defence, with the hosts enjoying a staggering 72% possession.
Just as Hoffenheim seemed to be tightening their grip on the match, St. Pauli delivered a sucker punch in the 20th minute. Jackson Irvine showcased his vision with a brilliant turn and cross from the right flank. The ball found Oladapo Afolayan just inside the area, and the forward made no mistake, volleying into the ground and past Oliver Baumann to give the visitors a shock lead. The goal, St. Pauli's first shot of the game, exemplified their clinical efficiency in the face of Hoffenheim's dominance. Remarkably, this strike had just a 7% probability of resulting in a goal, making it the most unlikely successful attempt of the match.
Stung by the setback, Hoffenheim redoubled their efforts to find a way back into the match. Hložek and Anton Stach both saw efforts blocked or saved as the home side ramped up the pressure. Bülter came closest to levelling the scores just before half-time, forcing a smart save from Vasilj from a tight angle. Despite their endeavours and a total of 13 shots compared to St. Pauli's 6, Hoffenheim entered the break trailing, with St. Pauli's resolute defending and Vasilj's impressive goalkeeping frustrating their attempts to restore parity.
The second half began with Hoffenheim introducing Haris Tabaković in place of Hložek, signalling their intent to find an equaliser. However, it was St. Pauli who nearly doubled their lead when Morgan Guilavogui had his shot saved following another incisive counter-attack. The visitors continued to threaten on the break, with Afolayan and Guilavogui combining well to create chances. Hoffenheim, for their part, saw Tabaković go close with a header and Tom Bischof force a save from Vasilj as they desperately sought to level the scores. Vasilj's performance grew in stature, with the goalkeeper making a total of 6 saves throughout the match to keep his clean sheet intact.
As the match entered its final stages, Hoffenheim threw everything forward in search of an equaliser. The tension was palpable, with St. Pauli's coach Blessin receiving a yellow card in the 70th minute for his touchline behaviour. However, Hoffenheim's efforts were in vain, and St. Pauli delivered the knockout blow in stoppage time. Irvine once again turned provider, feeding substitute Andreas Albers inside the area. The striker kept his cool, slotting past Baumann to secure a memorable 2-0 victory for the visitors and send the travelling fans into raptures.
Jackson Irvine was the standout performer in St. Pauli's impressive victory. The Australian midfielder's influence was felt throughout the match, providing two crucial assists en route to victory. Irvine's vision and execution for the opening goal set the tone for St. Pauli's counter-attacking strategy. Despite Hoffenheim's dominance in possession, Irvine's work rate was exemplary, covering 12.7 km – the most of any St. Pauli player. His ability to read the game and make timely interceptions disrupted Hoffenheim's rhythm, while his distribution under pressure helped maintain St. Pauli's threat on the break. Irvine's performance was instrumental in St. Pauli's tactical approach to overcome Hoffenheim's possession advantage.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Hoffenheim 0.9085 - St. Pauli 0.8573
Fastest player: Stanley Nsoki (Hoffenheim), 34.99 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-1 by Oladapo Afolayan (St. Pauli), 7 percent
Most pressed player: Johannes Eggestein (St. Pauli), 28 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Anton Stach (Hoffenheim), +5.39
Fantasy Heroes: Nikola Vasilj (St. Pauli, 275 Points), Anton Stach (Hoffenheim, 245 Points), Valentin Gendrey (Hoffenheim, 221 Points)