FC St. Pauli

The first home game since the start of Russia's attack on Ukraine began in the shadow of war, with scores of symbols and expressions of solidarity with the people of Ukraine in evidence in the stands. The Boys in Brown took to the field wearing benefit T-shirts, while the club and its partners agreed to do away with the perimeter advertising. Instead, messages of peace were on display in several languages.

Injury concerns remained an issue for Timo Schultz after the midweek defeat in the cup and the St. Pauli supremo again had to tinker with his starting lineup. Nikola Vasilj returned in goal, as was to be expected, while Christopher Buchtmann and Simon Makienok began in place of Afeez Aremu (bench) and Maximilian Dittgen (ruled out by injury). Karlsruhe coach Christian Eichner made three changes, Ricardo van Rhijn, Marc Lorenz and Lucas Cueto coming in for Marco Thiede, Jerome Gondorf and former St. Pauli man Kyoung-Rok Choi, who did not make the journey to Hamburg due to injury.

Both teams were in action in the cup quarter-final during the week, but there were no signs of tiredness on the part of the Boys in Brown. The Schultz XI made a bright start and put the visitors under pressure early on. Karlsruhe went with some no-nonsense transition play but threatened for the first time with a set play from the left on 10 minutes. Philipp Hofmann's header lacked the power to trouble Vasilj, however.

There was no lack of power at the other end four minutes later when Kyereh gave his side the lead. After a neat string of short passes, his initial effort was blocked, but the Ghana international left KSC keeper Marius Gersbeck no chance with a thumping volley on the rebound. The visitors stepped up their efforts after going behind, which opened up more space for the Boys in Brown, without it leading to any clear-cut chances. Then, on 25 minutes, confusion reigned momentarily when Marcel Hartel drove forward with the ball at his feet and went for goal. His shot took a deflection and found its way to Kyereh via Guido Burgstaller, and the midfielder was left with the simple task of tapping in. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but after a review by the video assistant referee it was allowed to stand.

Ten minutes later, it was three when Makienok chested down a long ball forward under pressure on the edge of the box before striking an unstoppable shot inside the far post. Hartel then thought he had added a fourth within 60 seconds, only to have it chalked off for offside. The Boys in Brown continued to get the ball forward quickly and had Karlsruhe in constant trouble. Burgstaller angled a drive wide of the post five minutes before the break, but given the three-goal advantage that was of little concern.

The start of an impressive first-half showing: the Boys in Brown celebrate after Kofi Kyereh's opener.

Karlsruhe attempted to relieve the pressure with three half-time substitutions, introducing Fabian Schleusener, Kilian Jakob and Daniel Gordon, while Timo Schultz understandably saw no reason to make any changes. The visitors began the half with more penetration in the box, but the Boys in Brown were focused at the back and remained a constant threat on the counter. The best opportunity came on 53 minutes when Leart Paqarada saw a shot gathered by Gersbeck at the second attempt. At the other end, Schleusener dragged a shot narrowly wide.

The Schultz XI switched to a more cautious approach but whenever they did pass their way forward the threat was there, as in the 63^rd minute when Burgstaller popped up in front of Gersbeck but was unable to steer the ball past the keeper. A goal was in the air, but it came at the other end when Hofmann shrugged off the challenge of Marcel Beifus and hooked a shot past Vasilj from close range. Karlsruhe were the busier of the two teams now and could have reduced the deficit further through Cueto, but the attacking player missed the target by some distance.

Timo Schultz bolstered his rearguard by bringing on Afeez Aremu and Adam Dźwigała for Buchtmann and Zander with around 15 minutes to go, but with both sides beginning to feel the exertions of their midweek outings in the cup, the game lacked quality and goalscoring opportunities. Paqarada did have a chance to make it 4-1 in time added on, but Gersbeck produced a fine save to prevent a change to the scoreline.

FC St. Pauli

Vasilj - Zander (Dźwigała 75'), Beifus, Medić, Paqarada – Irvine - Hartel, Buchtmann (Aremu 73'), Kyereh (Becker 88') – Makienok, Burgstaller (Matanović 88')

Head coach: Timo Schultz

Karlsruher SC

Gersbeck - Van Rhijn (Batmaz 83'), Kobald (Gordon 46'), O'Shaughnessy, Heise (Jakob 46') - Lorenz (Schleusener 46'), Breithaupt, Wanitzek - Goller (Kaufmann 70'), Hofmann, Cueto

Head coach: Christian Eichner

Goals: 1-0 Kyereh (14'), 2-0 Kyereh (25'), 3-0 Makienok (35'), 3-1 Hofmann (66')

Yellow cards: Zander, Irvine, Kyereh, Aremu – Kobald, Wanitzek

Referee: Tobias Reichel (Stuttgart)

Attendance: 22,158

Photos: Witters