FC St. Pauli

After three draws in succession Markus Kauczinski's side went into the game looking for a brave performance to secure their first win since the defeat of Holstein Kiel in late February. The St. Pauli boss made just one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Sandhausen last time out, Christopher Buchtmann coming into the starting lineup for Johannes Flum, who pulled out just before the game with a muscle problem. Sami Allagui took the captain's armband. Aue coach Hannes Drews also made one change, defender Dennis Kempe replacing Malcolm Cacutalua, who has a stomach bug.

The Boys in Brown made a bright start to the game, putting the home side under pressure with some effective pressing and creating half chances for Mats Møller Dæhli and Sami Allagui, without ever really threatening. On 23 Christopher Buchtmann struck a free-kick into the wall when promisingly placed. Yet Aue were not without their chances themselves, primarily for Calogero Rizzuto on 13 and Pascal Köpke six minutes later.

With the game seemingly evenly balanced, then Aue took the lead. Clemens Fandrich pulled the trigger from outside the box, and because the ball took a wicked deflection off Christopher Avevor, there was nothing Robin Himmelmann could do. A goal to the good, the Violets gained the upper hand and knocked the ball around nicely. With 38 minutes gone, Jeremy Dudziak picked up his fifth booking of the season for a tactical foul on Aue livewire Ridge Munsy and will miss the game against Union Berlin through suspension. Kauczinski's side kept plugging away, however, and with half-time fast approaching Aziz Bouhaddouz met a Christopher Buchtmann layoff first time to level the scores with a crisp drive.

Jeremy Dudziak, Aziz Bouhaddouz and Mats Møller Dæhli celebrate the equaliser.

The Boys in Brown came out fighting after the interval and sought to maintain the pressure on the home side. In the 55^th minute Buchtmann was booked for a foul on Fandrich and the resulting free-kick almost produced a second goal for Aue. The experienced Christopher Tiffert curled the ball around the wall and was unlucky to see it strike the inside of the right-hand post, roll across the face of the goal and hit the other post before Christopher Avevor stepped in to clear the danger.

With both teams focused on keeping their defensive shape, there were no incidents of note at either end until the 81^st minute, when Köpke went to ground under a challenge from Daniel Buballa and referee Christof Günsch pointed to the spot before booking Buballa. Mario Kvesic, who had just come on for Dimitrij Nazarov, stepped up and converted with aplomb, even though Himmelmann went the right way.

St. Pauli threw everyone forward in a bid to find a second equaliser and it almost came in the 89^th minute when Lasse Sobiech headed the ball down for fellow substitute Dimitrios Diamantakos, but his shot was charged down by an Aue defender. The Boys in Brown were unable to threaten Martin Männel's goal in the four minutes of time added on, however, and it ended 2-1 to the home side.

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FC Erzgebirge Aue

Männel – Rizzuto, Kalig, Hertner, Kempe – Tiffert – Riese, Fandrich – Munsy (Wydra 87'), Nazarov (Kvesic 76'), Köpke (Bunjaku 89')

Head coach: Hannes Drews

FC St. Pauli

Himmelmann – Park, Ziereis, Avevor, Buballa (Sobiech 83') – Buchtmann, Dudziak - Møller Dæhli (Neudecker 70'), Allagui (Diamantakos 79') Sahin - Bouhaddouz

Head coach: Markus Kauczinski

Goals: 1-0 Fandrich (25'), 1-1 Bouhaddouz (44'), 2-1 Kvesic (pen. 82')

Yellow cards: Dudziak, Buchtmann, Buballa, Bouhaddouz – Hertner, Rizzuto

Referee: Christof Günsch (Marburg)

Attendance: 14,700

Photos: Witters