FC St. Pauli

Jos Luhukay made two changes to the team that lost 1-0 at home to Hannover 96 last week. Leo Østigård returned to the starting lineup, while Under-23 defender Mert Kuyucu was handed his senior debut. Jan-Philipp Kalla and Viktor Gyökeres dropped to the bench. Waldemar Sobota skippered the side for the first time in his 132^nd competitive appearance.

Operating with back three when in possession and a back five when not, the Boys in Brown had the first chance through Sobota on four minutes. The midfielder pulled the trigger from 25 metres out, but SSV keeper Alexander Meyer made a comfortable save. That was the only action of note in an opening characterised by some wayward passing from both sides. Luhukay's team gave nothing away from open play, so it came as little surprise when Regensburg's first effort came from a throw-in, Benedikt Saller dragging a shot well off target from range in the 17^th minute.

Gaining in confidence, the Boys in Brown cranked up a gear and created another chance with 20 minutes gone when Ryo Miyaichi raced down the right and crossed for Mats Møller Dæhli. The midfielder failed to make a proper contact, but the ball fell for Henk Veerman. Unfortunately, the Dutchman wasn't expecting it and placed his effort the wrong side of the post. Veerman went much closer two minutes later, meeting a ball in from Luca Zander first time under challenge from Marcel Correia, only to see his technically adept effort smack against the crossbar.

The Boys in Brown again tried their luck down the right. Marvin Knoll sprayed the ball out wide to Zander, who picked out Veerman with a pinpoint cross. His header was turned round the left-hand upright by Meyer, and from the resulting corner Østigård headed wide of the goal. The home side repeatedly sought to launch rapid-fire counterattacks, but with Luhukay's side solid at the back there was no way through for the hosts. And when an opening did appear in the St. Pauli rearguard, Benedikt Gimber shanked his distance effort well wide.

At the other end, the Boys in Brown injected some urgency in the 40^th minute when Miyaichi fed Veerman, who after hesitating slightly dinked a shot just over the bar from the edge of the area. Almost immediately, however, SSV took the lead. Andreas Albers took advantage of some confusion between Sobota and Kuyucu and slipped the ball low to Marco Grüttner, who found the corner of the net with a cheeky backheel.

Henk Veerman beats Regensburg's Marcel Correia to the ball in the 22nd minute, only to see the ball crash against the crossbar.

The Boys in Brown emerged unchanged after the interval and kicked off towards the 1,800 raucous travelling fans, albeit a few minutes late due to a hole in the one of the nets. Regensburg had the first opportunity, but Max Besuschkow directed his long-range attempt over the top. Sebastian Stolze tried his luck from even further out five minutes later, but he too failed to find the target. Veerman then drove into the SSV box moments later, but ran into traffic and the chance was gone.

Just 60 seconds later, Møller Dæhli had a golden opportunity to level the scores when he left Correia for dead and popped up unmarked in front of Meyer, but the Norwegian was unable to find a way past the SSV keeper. Jann George was denied twice in quick succession by Himmelmann, who then kept out Besuschkow's effort from just outside the box.

Luhukay then made his first substitution, throwing on attacking wide man Luis Coordes for defender James Lawrence. He may have rued that decision two minutes later, when fellow centre-back Philipp Ziereis caught Grüttner in a sliding challenge and was sent off for a second bookable offence – a harsh decision. The Boys in Brown almost suffered another setback soon after when Besuschkow fired just over from a promising position. George then missed the target from 20 metres and Stolze hit the post from a corner.

With one man down, it was always going to be difficult for the Boys in Brown to rescue a point and although they fought hard and gave it everything they had, they were unable to find an equaliser. Marvin Knoll saw a shot blocked by teammate Leo Østigård and then headed a Sobota corner over the top. Substitute Finn Ole Becker also aimed too high from range four minutes later. That was to prove the last attempt of note in a game in which the Boys in Brown gave a good performance, especially in the first half, but were left empty-handed once again.

SSV Jahn Regensburg

Meyer - Saller (Heister 63'), Nachreiner, Correia, Okoroji - George, Gimber, Besuschkow, Stolze (Wekesser 86') - Grüttner, Albers (Schneider 81')

Head coach: Mersad Selimbegović

FC St. Pauli

Himmelmann - Zander, Østigård, Ziereis, Lawrence (Coordes 67'), Kuyucu - Miyaichi, Knoll, Møller Dæhli (Becker 84'), Sobota - Veerman (Tashchy 81')

Head coach: Jos Luhukay

Goals: 1-0 Grüttner (42')

Yellow cards: Saller – Ziereis, Sobota

Red card (second yellow): Ziereis (persistent foul play 69')

Referee: Sven Waschitzki

Attendance: 15,026

Photos: Witters