"An extremely important victory": Magdeburg beats St. Pauli as well

1. FC Magdeburg secured its fifth straight home win and set a new club record for points. Despite some early struggles, the team from Magdeburg defeated FC St. Pauli 4-1 (1-0) in front of 27,716 spectators. 

Mateusz Zukowski (27'), Anselmo García Mac Nulty (48'), Herbert Bockhorn (89'), and Roko Simic (90'+1) scored for FCM. Eric Smith (58') scored the consolation goal. In addition, visiting player Louis Oppie was shown a red card (82'). Magdeburg enters the international break in 4th place with 20 points.

“That was an extremely important win today. We had trouble getting into the game at the start, but the goal gave us a boost,” said midfielder Torben Müsel. “I don’t think it was a 4-1 game, but we’re brutally efficient at home,” assessed captain Dominik Reimann.

Zukowski Returns and Scores Spectacularly

Magdeburg’s striker Zukowski returned to the starting lineup after a shoulder contusion; Leon Mergner replaced Falko Michel in midfield (muscle issues). The visitors pressed high up the field, repeatedly forcing the FCM into errant passes and turnovers. Branimir Hrgota fired the visitors’ first scoring chance over the goal (5th minute). St. Pauli also made the occasional mistake but was generally more determined.

FCM was sometimes half-hearted in one-on-one battles and was lucky that St. Pauli didn’t capitalize on this. Magdeburg took the lead: While Nadjombe was denied by Ben Voll, Zukowski scored with a volley off the ensuing corner kick. Only then did the Blue-Whites really get into the game, gaining confidence and regularly attacking the visitors’ penalty area. It wasn’t until the closing stages that the visitors became more active again, though without posing any real threat.

A livelier second half

Magdeburg was immediately on the attack after the break as well. Emmanuel Iyoha was denied by Ben Voll after attempting to nutmeg him (47'), but following the resulting corner, Mac Nulty got on the end of the cross and tapped the ball into the net. Magdeburg controlled the game afterward, but a misplaced pass brought the visitors back into the match. Although Hrgota, completely unmarked, was denied by Reimann, Smith put the resulting corner kick into the net.

After that, the visitors pressed for the equalizer, and FCM was rarely able to relieve the pressure. St. Pauli took complete control, now displaying fluid passing plays and repeatedly threatening the FCM penalty area. Substitute Felipe Chavez finished one of the few counterattacks—but missed the goal (72'). After a foul on Iyoha, St. Pauli’s Oppie was shown a red card. Magdeburg took advantage of the space and scored twice more.