FC St. Pauli

Just three days after the rousing 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Cup it was time for another highlight in the shape of a trip across the city to HSV. Head coach Timo Schultz made one change to the side that reached the cup quarter-final, Nikola Vasilj returning between the posts in place of Dennis Smarsch.

The hosts came flying out of the traps and fashioned an excellent chance for Faride Alidou with just three minutes gone. His attempt from close to the penalty spot, set up by Ludovit Reis, flew over the crossbar. Just three minutes later Moritz Heyer had two opportunities to open the scoring following a corner. His first effort came back off the upright, however, and the second went wide. The HSV defender did have the ball in the net moments later, but Bakery Jatta had strayed offside before delivering the cross.

It took a while for the Boys in Brown to escape the home side's stranglehold and so it was not until the 16^th minute that Guido Burgstaller registered the first opportunity, pulling the trigger from the left-hand channel following a neat passing move. His shot proved no problem for HSV keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes.

Gradually, however, the Schultz-Elf began to make a game of it and created a number of openings in transition. And on 30 minutes the 200 travelling fans had cause to celebrate when Etienne Amenyido headed a free-kick back across goal for Burgstaller to nod home from close range. A goal hadn't exactly been in the air but no matter.

On the stroke of half-time the home side had two opportunities to level the scores in quick succession. Mario Vuskovic was initially denied in fine style by Nikola Vasilj, who then pulled off another good stop to thwart Bakery Jatta and ensure his side went in at the break a goal to the good.

It was a hard-fought contest in Stellingen.

Timo Schultz made one change for the second period, Etienne Amenyido making way for Maximilian Dittgen. In a repeat of the first 45, the hosts hit the ground running and Reis was presented with the first chance just two minutes in. His speculative long-range effort produced an excellent save from Vasilj. With HSV pushing for an equaliser and the Boys in Brown waiting for a chance to break, the intensity of the game increased markedly. Something had to break and in the 58^th minute it did, Sebastian Schonlau powering home a close-range header from a corner to restore parity for the home side.

Then, following a lull in the action lasting a full 12 minutes, HSV struck again. Sonny Kittel sent Jatta on his way with a ball in behind the defence and he gave his side the lead with a clinical finish beyond Vasilj into the far corner. That left the Boys in Brown scrambling for an equaliser, and it almost came on 79 when Burgstaller was teed up brilliantly by Hartel, but Heuer-Fernandes did well to get down and make the save. The Schultz XI kept plugging away, but for all their efforts they were unable to find a way through and it ended in a 2-1 defeat.

Hamburger SV

Heuer Fernandes – Heyer, Vuskovic, Schonlau, Muheim – Meffert, Reis, Kittel (Kinsombi 87') – Jatta (David 90'), Glatzel (Kaufmann 90'), Alidou (Wintzheimer 71')

Head coach: Tim Walter

FC St. Pauli

Vasilj – Ohlsson (Dzwigala 77'), Medic, Lawrence, Paqarada – Smith (Makienok 81'), Hartel, Becker (Daschner 71'), Irvine (Benatelli 81')  – Amenyido (Dittgen 46'), Burgstaller

Head coach: Timo Schultz

Goals: 0-1 Burgstaller (30'), 1-1 Schonlau (58'), 2-1 Jatta (70')

Yellow cards: Kittel, Reis – Amenyido, Irvine, Hartel

Referee: Sascha Stegemann

Attendance: 2,000

Photos: Witters