St. Pauli win relegation six-pointer | OneFootball

St. Pauli edge past Hoffenheim to earn relegation boost

St. Pauli secured a 1-0 victory over TSG Hoffenheim in a relegation six-pointer, with Noah Weißhaupt's goal proving the difference at the Millerntor-Stadion on Friday evening.

St. Pauli 1-0 HoffenheimGoals: 1-0 Weißhaupt 51' (assist: Treu)

The Millerntor-Stadion played host to a crucial relegation battle as St. Pauli welcomed Hoffenheim on Matchday 26 of the Bundesliga. The home side entered the match winless in six, precariously positioned just two points above the relegation play-off spot.

Hoffenheim, despite a recent upturn in form with four games unbeaten, were also not clear of danger. Alexander Blessin's men were desperate to end their poor run and create some breathing space in the relegation scrap. St. Pauli's strong defensive record, having conceded just 30 goals this season - joint third-best in the league - provided a glimmer of hope against a Hoffenheim side looking to continue their recent good form.

Noah Weißhaupt celebrates with teammates after scoring the decisive goal for St. Pauli. (IMAGO/Justus Stegemann)

Cagey first half

The first half was a tense affair, with both sides aware of the high stakes. St. Pauli, true to their season's form, displayed their defensive prowess, making it difficult for Hoffenheim to create clear-cut chances. The home side had the better of the opportunities, with Jackson Irvine coming close on two occasions. In the seventh minute, his header from a Manolis Saliakas cross was saved, and later in the 28th minute, Siebe Van der Heyden narrowly missed the target from a corner. Danel Sinani also tested Oliver Baumann with a powerful shot from distance in the 27th minute, adding to St. Pauli's attacking efforts. Despite these chances, the teams went into the break goalless, leaving the game finely poised.

Weißhaupt breaks the deadlock

The second half started with a bang for the home side. In the 51st minute, a costly error by Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann was ruthlessly punished. Philipp Treu intercepted Baumann's poor pass, dribbled past the stranded keeper, and unselfishly set up Weißhaupt for a simple finish. It was Weißhaupt's first Bundesliga goal for St. Pauli, and it sent the Millerntor-Stadion into raptures. The goal proved to be the decisive moment of the match.

St. Pauli hold firm

Following the goal, St. Pauli grew in confidence and continued to press for a second. They dominated set-pieces, earning a total of 11 corners throughout the match. Irvine came close again in the 58th minute, forcing another save from Baumann. Hoffenheim, desperate for an equaliser, brought on Haris Tabaković and Marius Bülter to bolster their attack. However, they struggled to break down St. Pauli's resolute defence. Their best chance came in the 72nd minute when substitute Bazoumana Toure headed wide from an Andrej Kramarić cross. As the final whistle approached, St. Pauli's defence, marshalled by the impressive Eric Smith, stood firm to secure a crucial victory.

Player of the Match: Eric Smith

Eric Smith put in a commanding performance at the heart of St. Pauli's defence, playing a crucial role in securing the clean sheet. The Swedish defender's positioning, tackling, and ability to read the game were instrumental in nullifying Hoffenheim's attacks. Smith's contribution was reflected in his impressive fantasy score of 237 points, the highest of any player in the match. His leadership and composure under pressure exemplified St. Pauli's defensive solidity, which has been a hallmark of their season despite their struggles at the other end of the pitch.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: St. Pauli 1.99 - Hoffenheim 0.96Fastest player: Anton Stach (Hoffenheim), 33.09 km/hLowest goal probability: 1-0 by Noah Weißhaupt (Pauli), 81 percentMost pressed player: Elias Saad (Pauli), 15 times under pressurePass efficiency: Elias Saad (Pauli), +3.02

Fantasy Heroes: Eric Smith (St. Pauli, 237 Points), Philipp Treu (St. Pauli, 203 Points), Noah Weißhaupt (St. Pauli, 175 Points)

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