FC St. Pauli

The two coaches agreed to play four periods of 30 minutes each, with Timo Schultz eager to give all his fit players the opportunity to stake a claim for the league resumption against Aue. Somewhat surprisingly, the starting lineup included Jackson Irvine, who had been unable to train fully in recent days due to an injury to his left foot.

In an opening quarter low on highlights, the only chance of note was an effort by Guido Burgstaller, who latched on to a through ball from Simon Makienok and rifled a shot just wide of the left-hand upright. The Schultz XI made a brighter start to the second 30 minutes and fashioned some decent opportunities from set pieces. Burgstaller fired a free-kick into the wall on 35 and then Marcel Beifus was unable to get enough power on his header. The Boys in Brown were dominating the proceedings by now but unable to create any further chances. At the other end, the Belgian outfit threatened twice on the stroke of half-time, first with a header that ultimately lacked the necessary precision and then with an effort following a counter down the right that Nikola Vasilj was able to divert for a corner.

Schultz rang the chances at the half, with Etienne Amenyido the only player to re-emerge for the third quarter. His charges continued to dictate the play and carved out some good opportunities, especially down the left, but Buchtmann and Dittgen were unable to capitalise. Buchtmann it was who eventually gave his side the lead following a corner from the left on 82, chesting the ball down and dispatching an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner from range. The midfielder then turned provider. His long ball over the top found Dittgen, who had no trouble taking it round the keeper and slotting home on 95. Finn-Ole Becker had the opportunity to make it three at the end of a neat passing move, but the angle proved too tight and it therefore ended in a deserved 2-0 victory.

Max Dittgen after the game: "It was a productive friendly that gave us an opportunity to try a few things. I think our patterns were there for all to see, especially for the coaching team. We did everything we set out to do. It's nice that we won the game but it's not the most important thing. I'm also happy to have got on the scoresheet. I'm making the deep runs expected of me and it was a super ball from Buchti as well."

FC St. Pauli

Starting lineup: Vasilj - Ritzka, Lawrence, Beifus, Ohlsson - Roggow, Benatelli, Irvine (Becker 53'), Daschner - Makienok (Amenyido 31'), Burgstaller

From minute 61: Smarsch - Paqarada, Dźwigała, Medić, Jessen - Hartel, Smith, Buchtmann, Becker - Dittgen, Amenyido (Matanović 74')

Head coach: Timo Schultz

Goals: 1-0 Buchtmann (82'), 2-0 Dittgen (95')

Yellow cards: Beifus, Dźwigała

Photos: FC St. Pauli/Witters