FC St. Pauli

Head coach Timo Schultz made one enforced change to the side that won 3-1 at Karlsruhe, introducing Christopher Buchtmann in place of Maximilian Dittgen, who was ruled out by a calf problem. Buchtmann slotted into the attacking position in the midfield diamond, with Daniel-Kofi Kyereh partnering Guido Burgstaller up front. Dynamo coach Dresden Alexander Schmidt also made one adjustment following the 3-0 home win over Werder Bremen, Julius Kade coming into the side for Paul Will.

The Saxony outfit had not won on any of their previous nine visits to the Millerntor and the Boys in Brown took to the field determined to stretch that run to ten and set a new record by winning all of their first five home matches. The nigh on 15,000 fans were in good voice before a ball had been kicked, not least because the home section of the North Stand was open for the first time.

A murmur went through the crowd just seconds into the game when Daniel-Kofi Kyereh left several Dresden players standing en route to the penalty area, but the attacking midfielder was unable to pick out Guido Burgstaller with his cross.

That murmur turned into a deafening roar moments later, however. The Boys in Brown applied more pressure up front and when Kyereh laid the ball off with his heel for Christopher Buchtmann on the edge of the penalty area, the midfielder drilled a left-foot shot into the top left corner with exactly 60 seconds on the clock.

The visitors edged the possession in the ensuing period but lacked punch up front against the well-marshalled St. Pauli rearguard. And despite the rigorous early pressing of the visitors, the Schultz XI repeatedly escaped their stranglehold with some bold attacking football from the back. Ransford-Yeboah Königsdorffer did unleash a shot on goal following a Chris Löwe pass on 13 minutes, but his shot from the inside-left channel was too high.

It remained a hard-fought contest, but the Boys in Brown were the better side going forward and it was they who fashioned the next chance on 22 minutes when Burgstaller pulled the trigger from 14 metres, only for Dynamo keeper Kevin Broll to turn his angled drive inches past the far post. Birthday boy Afeez Aremu was the next to try his luck, though his effort from distance was wayward. Hartel had another go from range on the counterattack, but again it lacked the necessary precision. Four minutes from the interval, Buchtmann had an opportunity to double the advantage following an exquisite Jackson Irvine pass, but he was unable to get enough power on the shot and Broll made a comfortable save. Aremu then drove over the top from distance and Hartel failed to trouble the keeper, ensuring it remained just 1-0 at the break.

Christopher Buchtmann notched the opening goal with just 60 seconds on the clock.

The Boys in Brown re-emerged unchanged, while striker Agyemang Diawusie replaced midfielder Julius Kade for the visitors. The pattern of the play remained much the same, however. Both teams fought passionately for the ball and refused to yield an inch of turf, without things ever getting out of control. Dresden continued to press early, a tactic the Boys in Brown countered by maintaining their composure on the ball and showing courage in their build-up play. It went back and forth at pace, but chances remained at a premium because both defences went about their business in a systematic way.

Just after the hour, the visitors went close when a ball into the box found Morris Schröter, whose first-time effort fizzed narrowly past the left-hand upright. Soon after, Schultz opted to make his first substitution, introducing Rico Benatelli for goalscorer Christopher Buchtmann. That was followed by the first chance of the second half for the Boys in Brown. Luca Zander delivered a low ball into the box that the visitors could only half clear, but Burgstaller drove his first-time effort over the top.

With the game entering the closing stages, referee Bastian Dankert waved away claims for a penalty when Marcel Hartel was brought down in the box, but after an intervention from VAR he had another look at it on the touchline and subsequently pointed to the spot. Burgstaller took on the responsibility and smashed the ball into the net off the underside of the crossbar to make it 2-0 and send the fans into raptures. 

In the 78^th minute, Leart Paqarada was unable to get the better of Groll with a 30-metre free-kick after another foul on Hartel. Buoyed by the second goal, the Boys in Brown were playing with much more freedom now and fashioned another chance two minutes later, but as before Burgstaller was unable to keep his effort down. The result was finally put beyond doubt in the third minute of time added on when substitute Marcel Beifus collected a long ball forward and bore down on Broll before netting to make it 3-0 and complete a fifth home win on the bounce that sent the Schultz XI to the top of the table.

FC St. Pauli

Vasilj - Zander (Lawrence 86'), Ziereis, Medić, Paqarada (Dźwigała 86') - Aremu, Hartel, Irvine, Buchtmann (Benatelli 65') - Kyereh (Ritzka 90'+1), Burgstaller (Beifus 90'+1)

Head coach: Timo Schultz

Dynamo Dresden

Broll - Becker (Aidonis 85'), Sollbauer, Akoto, Löwe (Will 81') - Stark, Kade (Diawusie 46'), Mörschel - Schröter (Seo 68'), Daferner, Königsdörffer (Giorbelidze 68')

Head coach: Alexander Schmidt

Goals: 1-0 Buchtmann (1'), 2-0 Burgstaller (pen. 73'), 3-0 Beifus (90'+3)

Yellow cards: Königsdörffer, Giorbelidze

Referee: Bastian Dankert (Rostock)

Attendance: 14,773 (sold out)

Photos: FC St. Pauli/Witters