FC St. Pauli

Jos Luhukay fielded a completely different side from the one that ran out at Dynamo Dresden at the weekend. The head coach used the friendly to give a selection of squad players, fit-again absentees and new signings a chance to show themselves and gain some match practice. Christopher Buchtmann was the only starter who saw some action at Dresden, albeit only in the final minutes. Recent arrivals Youba Diarra and Sebastian Ohlsson both featured in the opening lineup. Luhukay also elected to change his system, sending his charges out in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Johannes Flum captaining the side from central defence. Niklas Hoffmann and Waldemar Sobota looked on from the stands.

The Boys in Brown made the better start and fashioned the first opportunity with just two minutes gone through Christopher Buchtmann, who only narrowly failed to convert a whipped-in cross from Sebastian Ohlsson. But the ensuing period belonged to the visitors, who created several decent opportunities, one of which produced an excellent save from Svend Brodersen to deny Tom van Weert in a one-on-one. Johannes Flum then missed with a header following a sweetly struck swerving cross from Cenk Sahin.

In the 29^th minute Van Weert again bore down on Brodersen, who this time could only stop the Dutchman with a last-man foul just outside the penalty area. Referee Patrick Ittrich initially brandished a red card, but then took it back and produced a yellow. That meant the Boys in Brown were able to continue with 11 players on the field, though Leon Schmidt did enter the fray in place of Brodersen. Kasper Kusk then gave the visitors the lead with the resulting free-kick, his effort taking a deflection off Van Weert to leave Schmidt stranded. Flum almost restored parity moments later with a header that was a carbon copy of his effort in the 23^rd minute. Just before the interval Rico Benatelli and Ohlsson both had opportunities with long-range efforts after Christopher Buchtmann had cut back a free-kick from the corner of the box, but it remained 1-0 to the visitors at the break.

The Boys in Brown emerged unchanged for the second period and again enjoyed the better of the early exchanges. Nevertheless, it was Leon Schmidt who was forced into a decent stop at the other end by Van Weert on 54. Ten minutes later the visitors doubled their advantage when Iver Fossum, who moved to Aalborg from Hannover 96 at the beginning of the season, netted with a low rebound effort.

With a quarter of an hour left Frederik Börsting squandered an opportunity to add a third for the Danish outfit, who were the better side by now and happy to protect their lead. There were chances at both ends in the closing stages, with Fossum hitting the bar and Oliver Klitten the side netting for the visitors and Leon Schmidt making a double save. For the Boys in Brown, substitutes Marvin Senger and Luis Coordes registered attempts on goal, as did Buchtmann and Sahin, but none of them was able to do anything about the impending defeat.

Commenting on an entertaining 90 minutes with plenty of chances for both teams, Jos Luhukay said: "Our opponents were very stable at the back and posed a constant threat on the counter. The first half was evenly balanced, and we had two very good chances ourselves, but in the second Aalborg could have added to their lead and eventually ran out deserved winners."

FC St. Pauli

Brodersen (Schmidt 31') - Ohlsson (Senger 67'), Hornschuh, Flum, Penney - Sahin, Benatelli, Zehir, Diarra (Lee 67'), Buchtmann - Lankford (Coordes 74')

Head coach: Jos Luhukay

Aalborg BK

Hansen - Ahlmann (Kristensen 63'), Pallesen, van Weert, Christensen (Tengstedt 82'), Kusk (Pedersen 67'), Klitten, Olsen (Fossum 46'), Børsting, Thelander, Bærtelsen

Head coach: Jacob Friis

Goals: 0-1 Kusk (32'), 0-2 Fossum (64')

Yellow cards: Brodersen

Referee: Patrick Ittrich

Photos: Witters