FC St. Pauli

Timo Schultz named an unchanged side after the victory over Dynamo Dresden last time out that took them to the top of the table. On that day, the Boys in Brown got off to a perfect start with a goal in the opening minute, but today it was their turn to fall behind early on. Operating with a high press, the home side won possession off Leart Paqarada and when goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj could only parry the low ball in, the advancing Tobias Mohr was in the right place to slot home. Going to Heidenheim is tough enough at the best of times, and the task could have become even harder just three minutes later when Stefan Schimmer almost doubled his side's lead. Fortunately, Vasilj was able to defuse the danger.

The Schultz XI created no chances of note in the opening stages. Not until the 22nd minute did Guido Burgstaller have the first sight of goal following a cross from Jackson Irvine. The striker failed to make a proper connection, however, and Kevin Müller had no trouble gathering the ball. It was a similar story three minutes later when the Heidenheim custodian dealt comfortably with a Paqarada free-kick.

Having fashioned their first couple of openings, however, the Boys in Brown gained in confidence and had a better grip on the proceedings from that point on, even though opportunities remained a rarity for the time being. And so it was Heidenheim who twice came close to extending their advantage just before the break. First, Kevin Sessa screwed a pass from Marnon Busch wide of the target, and then Mohr was denied a second by Vasilj, ensuring the half ended without further scoring.

Guido Burgstaller levels the scores.

Timo Schultz made one change at half-time, withdrawing Christopher Buchtmann for Maximilian Dittgen. It took five minutes for Daniel-Kofi Kyereh to lay down the first marker from Guido Burgstaller's pass. That paved the way for the floodgates to open in seven magnificent moments of madness that began when Burgstaller, latching onto a ball over the top from midfield, levelled the scores with a clinical finish. Just 89 seconds later, Burgstaller turned provider by delivering a cross from the right for Maximilian Dittgen to poke home. The game had been turned on its head. But the fun didn't stop there and Burgstaller swept in a curler from some way out to make it 3-1 on the hour.

The home side were clearly rocked by that three-goal salvo from a St. Pauli side that bore no resemblance to the one in the first half. More chances followed, but the Boys in Brown were unable to put the game to bed until the 81st minute. With the home side pushing up for a corner in an attempt to rescue something from the game, the Schultz XI hit them on the counter. Kyereh broke clear and unselfishly squared the ball for Dittgen, leaving him the simple task of tapping into an empty net. And though Tim Kleindienst reduced the deficit four minutes from time, there was no preventing the Boys in Brown from taking the three points back to Hamburg.

FC Heidenheim

Müller, Busch, Mainka, Hüsing, Theuerkauf - Burnic (64' Leipertz), Schöppner (Pick 72'), Sessa (Malone 72'), Mohr, Kühlwetter (Thomalla 46'), Schimmer (Kleindienst 64')

Head coach: Frank Schmidt

FC St. Pauli

Vasilj - Zander, Ziereis, Medić (Lawrence 90'), Paqarada - Aremu, Hartel (Becker 90'), Irvine (Benatelli 70'), Buchtmann (Dittgen 46') - Kyereh, Burgstaller (Makienok 80')

Head coach: Timo Schultz

Goals: 1-0 Mohr (4'), 1-1 Burgstaller (55'), 1-2 Dittgen (56'), 1-3 Burgstaller (59'), 1-4 Dittgen (81'), 2-4 Kleindienst (86')

Yellow cards: Kühlwetter – Irvine, Medic

Referee: Benjamin Brand

Attendance: 8,013

Photos: Witters