FC St. Pauli

Both teams tested each other out in the first 15 minutes and there were few goalscoring opportunities. That ended in a flash when Joel Chima Fujita split open the Italian defence with a pass to Mathias Pereira Lage. The unmarked striker chipped the Verona keeper Montipò and found Andréas Hountondji who had a tap-in to score the opener from one metre out (15').

Shortly after that, Fujita had the chance to double the lead with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area but was denied by an impressive reflex save from Montipò (19’). The next chance for Arkadiusz Pyrka was almost more clear cut. The FCSP full-back received a low cross from Pereira Lager at the far post but his shot from eight metres out went just over the bar (22’).

It took a while for the top-flight Italian side to deal with the FCSP pressing. The next chance on goal came from a misplaced back pass that Nikola Vasilj was unable to control. The Hellas striker Giovane tried to lob the FCSP keeper but was denied first by the Bosnian and his second attempt was cleared off the line by Eric Smith (35'). Given the majority of chances, our Boys in Brown took a deserved lead into half-time.

Mathias Pereira Lage set up the opener for Andréas Hountondji.

FC St. Pauli had the first chance in the second half. Hountondji won the ball deep in his own half, sprinted over 50 metres with his shot to the near post saved by the Hellas keeper Montipò (52’). Shortly after that, Eric Smith hit a free kick from 25 metres out goalwards and again Montipò saved the Italians from going behind (55’).

Then Verona hit back: Giovane broke down the right wing before hitting his shot just wide of the far post (59'). After that play was again and again interrupted by substitutions as well as a drinks break with the game not really flowing for a long period.

The Venetian side upped their efforts in the closing stages and again and again tried to apply pressure but there were no clear goalscoring opportunities created. The Blessin team defended with passion and gave nothing away. At the other end, Connor Metcalfe forced his way past Hellas defender Enzo Ebosse and was through on the Verona goal. But he was unable to beat Montipò from a tight angle (84’). That was the last chance of the game as referee Stefan Macanovic blew the final whistle after two minutes of added time.

Head coach Alexander Blessin: "We had a difficult start and had problems getting into the game due to the weather. But after the first ten minutes we managed to gain control. There were clear chances on goal and when it was 1-0 we should have made it 2-0. We had good moments on the ball and good movement in our play. But we faced a battling team in Verona and they showed gritty determination. Again and again we found good solutions and a balance between long balls and playing in front of the back four. The substitutions interrupted our play but that's normal. So it was important for us to play our game without giving the opponents clear-cut chances on goal."

Danel Sinani: "The season starts in a week so it was important to put on a good show today. We did very well, didn't give much away and we definitely wanted to win the game to go into next week with confidence. We had a lot of shots on goal today and we were happy with that. Of course, we gave away a couple of chances in the second half but we'll analyse that and try to reduce those chances to a minimum."

Hellas Verona

Montipò – Ebosse (Kurti 86'), Núñez, Valentini (Slotsager 66') – Frese, Serdar (Kastanos 76'), Bernede (Niasse 66'), Tchatchoua – Suslov (Perez 66') – Livramento (Lambourde 86’), Giovane  

Head coach: Paolo Zanetti

FC St. Pauli

Vasilj – Dźwigała (Ritzka 71'), Smith, Wahl – Oppie (Ahlstrand 82'), Fujita (Schmidt 82'), Sands, Pyrka (Saliakas 46’) – Sinani (Metcalfe 71') – Pereira Lage (Afolayan 71'), Hountondji (Ceesay 71')

Head coach: Alexander Blessin

Goals: 0-1 Hountondji (15’)

Yellow cards: Núñez, Valentini, Slotsager / Afolayan

Referee: Stefan Macanovic (Austria)

Attendance: Around 500

Photos: Witters