FC St. Pauli

With Manolis Saliakas having served his one-match ban and Eric Smith back from injury, birthday boy Fabian Hürzeler, 30 today, made two changes to the side that won 2-1 at Magdeburg. Rostock coach Patrick Glöckner made just one adjustment from the 1-0 home defeat against Darmstadt, former St. Pauli man John Verhoek replacing Svante Ingelsson up top.

Nikola Vasilj was making his 50th competitive appearance in St. Pauli colours and was called into action for the first time on five minutes when the visitors popped up in front of the keeper after Jakov Medić had misjudged a long ball to Haris Duljevic, giving the Rostock man a clear run down the left. With John Verhoek shaping to shoot, his whipped-in cross was cleared by Eric Smith, a crucial intervention by our No8. The Boys in Brown, for their part, repeatedly tried their luck with quick balls in behind in a bid to create opportunities through Dapo Afolayan, Lukas Daschner or Connor Metcalfe. But it was the visitors who had the biggest chance in the opening stages when Marcel Hartel lost possession on the edge of the area in the 12^th minute, allowing Kai Pröger to unleash a shot from the left channel. Fortunately, Vasilj got down quickly to his left to tip the shot onto the far post and secure a narrow escape for Hürzeler's charges.

The Boys in Brown gradually took control of the proceedings in the ensuing period but a lack of accuracy with the final ball let them down whenever they passed their way to the edge of the Rostock box. That changed in the 26th minute, however, when everything came off to a tee! Dapo Afolayan was released on the left flank and his pinpoint cross found Jackson Irvine in the area. And just like he did at Magdeburg last week, the Australian found the net with a powerful header. Boosted by the opening goal, the Boys in Brown continued to push forward, and Lukas Daschner almost made it 2-0 a few minutes later. Afolayan was again in the thick of things, teeing up the favourably positioned Daschner in the danger area. The attacking midfielder stepped past Rostock keeper Markus Kolke but saw his shot blocked by a last-ditch lunge from Van Drongelen, and Afolayan was then offside when he followed up.

Five minutes before the break Daschner had a further opportunity to double his side's advantage. This time a Leart Paqarada free-kick found him at the far post, but his side-footed volley lacked the power to trouble Kolke. On the stroke of half-time, the Boys in Brown were left counting their lucky stars when Rostock twice went close from corner kicks. First, Vasilj had to stretch to keep out a Pröger header, and then Verhoek headed against the crossbar. A third corner proved equally dangerous. This time, Rossbach smashed a shot over with the goal at his mercy. Thankfully, the referee then blew his whistle for half-time.

The restart was delayed by a good ten minutes due to fireworks being let off and thrown onto the pitch and into the main stand from the away section. Rostock made three changes for the second period, including another striker in Svante Ingelsson, who slotted in alongside Verhoek. Hürzeler waited until ten minutes in to rejog his formation. David Otto came on for Connor Metcalfe and took up a position in the front three alongside Lukas Daschner and Dapo Afolayan. 

The Boys in Brown registered the first attempt of the half on the hour when a looping header from a Saliakas free-kick fell to Paqarada and the left-back met it first time on the volley. His effort flew some distance wide of the Hansa goal, however. It was a more open affair now and both teams had opportunities on the break. In the 63rd minute, Karol Mets brought one such Rostock raid to an abrupt end with a foul on Pröger and was shown the yellow card. That came moments after Afolayan had had a good opportunity for the Boys in Brown. After wrongfooting a couple of defenders on the left edge of the penalty area, his curling effort failed to find the target.

Hürzeler's side threatened again a few minutes later when Paqarada, Otto and Hartel broke into the box with some crisp first-time passing, but Hartel's low drive was too central, allowing Kolke to get down quickly to smother. Seconds later, the Hansa keeper was in the spotlight again when a long ball reached Daschner, but his touch was a tad heavy and the onrushing Kolke made himself big to block the shot. 

Twelve minutes from time, Vasilj prevented a certain equaliser when he stuck out a foot to keep out a low effort from Verhoek. The visitors were in the ascendency now and increasingly forced the Boys in Brown onto the back foot. That did not escape the attention of Hürzeler, who introduced fresh legs in Maurides and Betim Fazliji for Afolayan and Daschner. Suitably strengthened, the Boys in Brown gave their all in the final minutes and collectively saw the game out to win by the only goal.

FC St. Pauli

Vasilj - Medić, Smith, Mets - Saliakas, Hartel, Irvine (c), Paqarada - Afolayan (Maurides 82'), Daschner (Fazliji 90'+1), Metcalfe (Otto 55')

Head coach: Fabian Hürzeler

FC Hansa Rostock

Kolke (c) - Malone (Ingelsson 46'), Van Drongelen, Rossbach - Ananou (Munsy 85'), Fröde (Fröhling 46'), Dressel, Schumacher - Pröger (Schröter 73'), Verhoek, Duljevic (Rhein 46')

Head coach: Patrick Glöckner

Goals: 1-0 Irvine (26')

Yellow cards: Mets - Schumacher, Verhoek, Dressel, Ingelsson, Van Drongelen

Referee: Benjamin Brand (Unterspiesheim)

Attendance: 29,205 (sold out)

Photos: FC St. Pauli