Mbangula edges Bremen past St. Pauli

Werder Bremen 1-0 St. Pauli
Goals: 1-0 Mbangula 2’

Bremen entered this classic northern clash having collected just three points from their opening five games (W1, D1, L3), conceding a league-high 14 goals in the process. St. Pauli, meanwhile, had amassed seven points and were enjoying life back in the top flight, despite losing to Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.

While summer signing Martijn Kaars earned his first start in Pauli colours - replacing top scorer Andréas Hountondji - Horst Steffen kept faith with the same team that started the recent 4-0 defeat against Bayern Munich.

The hosts couldn't have asked for a better start, taking the lead after just two minutes. Jens Stage moved the ball out to the right flank where Justin Njinmah attempted a cross that was blocked. The rebound fell perfectly for Mbangula, who fired a clinical low finish into the bottom corner from 18 yards out.

Bremen continued to dominate the early stages, with Yukinari Sugawara forcing a stunning reaction save from Nikola Vasilj in the ninth minute following a swift counter-attack.

After absorbing Bremen's initial onslaught, Pauli gradually settled into the contest. Mathias Pereira Lage tested Karl Hein in the seventh minute after being released by Danel Sinani, but the Bremen goalkeeper was equal to the challenge.

Karim Coulibaly squandered a great opportunity to double Bremen's advantage in the 23rd minute, blazing over from close range after a being teed up by Stage. The visitors' best chance of the half fell to Kaars, who was denied by a crucial block from Felix Agu in the 41st minute - an intervention that would prove costly, as Agu was forced off with an ankle injury before half-time.

Alexander Blessin's side took control after the restart, enjoying the lion's share of possession as they searched for an equaliser. James Sands forced a routine save from Hein in the 50th minute with a volley from the edge of the box.

The hosts remained dangerous on the counter-attack, however, with substitute Marco Grüll seeing two efforts blocked in quick succession just after the hour mark. Blessin rolled the dice with a triple substitution in the 71st minute, introducing Manolis Saliakas, Abdoulie Ceesay and Connor Isaac Metcalfe in search of an equaliser.

The changes nearly paid dividends as St. Pauli created a flurry of chances. Kaars headed over from Saliakas' cross in the 76th minute, before Metcalfe curled an effort just wide of the far post moments later.

Bremen should have sealed the points in the 84th minute when Patrice Čović, on as a substitute, was denied by Vasilj in a one-on-one situation after being released by Romano Schmid. Victor Boniface squandered another opportunity in stoppage time, cutting back onto his right foot inside the box but dragging his shot wide. It mattered not, as Bremen held firm to secure their first home win of the season.

Mbangula proved to be the difference-maker with his clinical finish in just the second minute - a goal which earned him 53 percent of the Man of the Match vote. The forward displayed remarkable composure to pick his spot after the ball fell kindly to him outside the box.

Apart from his goal, Mbangula was a constant threat with his direct running and close control, causing problems for Pauli's defence throughout his 81 minutes on the pitch. He also made several important recoveries to help his side maintain their slender advantage.

Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Bremen 2.41 - St. Pauli 0.97
Fastest player: Mathias Pereira Lage (Pauli), 34.43 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Samuel Mbangula (Bremen), 10.18 per cent
Most pressed player: Cameron Puertas (Bremen), 21 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Danel Sinani (Pauli), +5.47

Fantasy Heroes: Samuel Mbangula (Bremen, 244 Points), Hauke Wahl (Pauli, 242 Points), Joel Chima Fujita (Pauli, 218 Points)