FC St. Pauli

Head coach Markus Kauczinski made three changes to the side that lost 4-0 at SV Sandhausen before the international break. Florian Carstens came in at right-back for Luca Zander (shoulder), Ersin Zehir replaced Jeremy Dudziak in defensive midfield, and Ryo Miyaichi got the nod over Kevin Lankford.

The Boys in Brown made a bright start to the game and fashioned their first chance with just 50 seconds gone. Miyaichi delivered a low ball into the box for Alex Meier, but he was unable to steer his shot on target. Four minutes later, Mats Møller Dæhli skipped past a couple of defenders and teed up Meier, who unfortunately got underneath the shot and the ball flew just over the bar. Duisburg had hardly had time to draw breath when Christopher Buchtmann picked out the advancing Justin Hoogma, but MSV captain Gerrit Nauber got in the way of the shot and the ball was cleared.

Duisburg eventually escaped the St. Pauli stranglehold but both Cauly Oliveira Souza and John Verhoek lacked precision when going for goal. Souza then tried his luck from 20 metres on the counter and the ball struck Daniel Buballa on the hand on the edge of the box – Bastian Dankert waved play on. Back at the other end, the ball found its way to Carstens via Meier and Møller Dæhli. The young right-back plucked up the courage to have a pop from distance, only for the ball to loop over the crossbar.

A lull in the play followed, as the proceedings were disrupted by lots of tackles in midfield and both sides gave little away at the back. In the 22^nd minute there was a sharp intake of breath from the home fans when Havard Nielsen failed to connect with a ball in five metres out, allowing the Boys in Brown to clear their lines. All Markus Kauczinski's side had to show for their efforts in this phase of the game was a shot from Daniel Buballa on 31 that was blocked. They did go close seven minutes later, though. Møller Dæhli knocked the ball wide to Carstens, whose cross found Meier. The striker attempted an impudent backheel, but MSV keeper Felix Wiedwald was alert to the danger. It was to prove the last incident of note in the half.

Ersin Zehir under challenge from former St. Pauli man John Verhoek.

Neither coach made a change at half-time, and the pattern of the game was much the same, too. Chances remained a rarity, with both sides guilty of sloppy passing in the opposition half. The Boys in Brown edged the possession but lacked punch in the final third. And when they did increase the tempo through Møller Dæhli, Zehir and Miyaichi, Nauber was able to clear in the penalty area.

Duisburg ventured forward for the first time in the 58^th minute when Nauber lofted the ball to the advancing Kevin Wolze in the box and the left-back rifled a shot into the side netting from a narrow angle. Waldemar Sobota came on for Miyaichi on 61 minutes and was in the action soon after, setting up Buchtmann in a one-two. The No10's shot took a deflection, however, allowing Wiedwald to turn it round the post. Buchtmann had another go just three minutes later, this time his effort was blocked by Nauber.

With 15 minutes left, Kauczinski threw on a fresh striker in Jan-Marc Schneider for Alex Meier. But it was the visitors who pushed forward, and they fashioned a decent opportunity on 82 when Andreas Wiegel picked out Souza with a cross from the right. Fortunately for the Boys in Brown, the Brazilian hoofed his shot well over when promisingly placed.

At the other end, Schneider could have won it with four minutes left. The striker nicked the ball off Fröde and went for goal, but his firmly struck shot flew straight at Wiedwald. Kauczinski's charges threw everyone forward in the final minutes to no avail and the game ended goalless.

FC St. Pauli

Himmelmann - Carstens, Avevor, Hoogma, Buballa - Knoll, Zehir - Miyaichi (Sobota 61'), Buchtmann, Møller Dæhli - Alex Meier (Schneider 76')

Head coach: Markus Kauczinski

MSV Duisburg

Wiedwald - Wiegel, Hajri, Nauber, Wolze - Souza (Gyau 90'+2), Fröde, Albutat, Schnellhardt - Nielsen (Iljutcenko 89') - Verhoek (Engin 72')

Head coach: Torsten Lieberknecht

Yellow cards: Sobota, Carstens – Fröde, Nauber

Referee: Bastian Dankert

Attendance: 29,546 (sold out)

Photos: Witters