Guilavogui stars in St. Pauli's first home triumph | OneFootball

Guilavogui's masterclass propels St. Pauli to first home win of the season against Union Berlin

Pauli 3-0 UnionGoals: 1-0 Guilavogui 31’ (assist: Irvine), 2-0 Guilavogui 51’ (assist: Eggestein), 3-0 Sinani 90’+3 (assist: Guilavogui)

The Millerntor was rocking as Pauli clinched their first home victory of the season, outclassing Union in a thrilling 3-0 encounter. Both sides were looking to climb further away from the relegation zone, and having both won in their previous fixtures, the stage was set for an intriguing battle.

Morgan Guilavogui celebrates his opening goal, one which set St. Pauli on the path to victory. (IMAGO/Matthias Koch)

Pauli take control after initial Union pressure

The opening exchanges saw Union start brightly, dominating possession and pressing high up the pitch. However, after about 15 minutes, Pauli began to assert their dominance. Morgan Guilavogui broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 31st minute, latching onto a clever pass from Jackson Irvine, before unleashing a thunderous shot into the top corner from a tight angle. Guilavogui's goal ignited the home crowd and solidified the hosts' control of the match.

Netting from a tight angle: Morgan Guilavogui fired the ball past Schwolow to double Pauli's lead. (Stuart Franklin)

Guilavogui doubles the lead as Pauli dominate

The second half saw the home side maintain their momentum, with Guilavogui once again taking centre stage. Just six minutes after the restart, the in-form striker struck again, this time benefiting from Johannes Eggestein's assist to double the lead. Union's attempts to mount a comeback were thwarted by Pauli's resolute defence, with Nikola Vasilj making crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet. The visitors' frustration was evident as they collected several yellow cards in their efforts to regain control.

A constant threat: Double goalscorer Morgan Guilavogui caused the Union defence several problems at the Millerntor on Sunday afternoon. (IMAGO/Oliver Ruhnke)

Missed chances and near misses add to the drama

Despite the home side's dominance, Union Berlin had their moments. In the 58th minute, Benedict Hollerbach had a golden opportunity to pull one back for the visitors, but his effort went wide. Pauli continued to press, and in the 67th minute, Noah Weißhaupt came agonisingly close to adding to the lead, his shot striking the post. These moments of excitement added to the match's intensity, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

Morgan Guilavogui and Manolis Saliakas celebrate one of St. Pauli's goals in their triumphant performance against Union Berlin (Stuart Franklin)

Sinani seals the victory

As the match entered its final stages, Pauli continued to press for more goals. Their persistence paid off in stoppage time when substitute Danel Sinani added a third, courtesy of a clever assist from the unstoppable Guilavogui. Sinani's goal put the exclamation point on a dominant performance by the home side, sending the Millerntor faithful into raptures. The final whistle confirmed the impressive 3-0 victory, lifting them above Union in the Bundesliga standings.

Player of the Match: Morgan Guilavogui

Guilavogui's stellar performance was the driving force behind The Boys in Brown's emphatic victory. The striker not only scored two crucial goals but also provided an assist, demonstrating his all-round attacking prowess. His first goal, a powerful strike from a tight angle, showcased his clinical finishing, while his second highlighted his positioning and awareness. Guilavogui's contribution extended beyond goals, as he consistently troubled Union's defence with his movement and link-up play. His assist for Sinani's goal in stoppage time capped off a near-perfect individual display.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: St. Pauli 1.4 - Union Berlin 1.25Fastest player: Benedict Hollerbach (FCU), 34.07 km/hLowest goal probability: 3-0 by Danel Sinani (STP), 4.78 percentMost pressed player: Johannes Eggestein (STP), 24 times under pressurePass efficiency: Manolis Saliakas (STP), +2.58

Fantasy Heroes: Morgan Guilavogui (St. Pauli, 341 Points), Noah Weißhaupt (St. Pauli, 226 Points), Jackson Irvine (St. Pauli, 177 Points)

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