FC Sankt Pauli vs Hoffenheim Match Preview
St. Pauli is back to entertain and to surprise. Three goals in the last six minutes to give Freiburg a ‘reality check’ is definitely a good start. Hoffenheim started off their campaign brilliantly with a 4-1 comeback win over a lacklustre Werder Bremen. The goals came from Vedad Ibisevic, Peniel Mlapa, Demba Ba and Sejad Salihovic. Peniel Mlapa is a new signing for the club.
Hoffenheim had many on-going problems behind the scenes; this is one of the main reasons why they finished eleventh last season. They have recently sold troublesome playmaker Carlos Eduardo to Rubin Kazan and gotten rid of some troublesome club members. Also, they have signed a young prodigy from Stuttgart, Sebastian Rudy. They have also released Timo Hildebrand.
From the first matchday, the fans learned that St. Pauli has grit. They have signed some good players such as Gerald Asamoah, Fin Bartels and Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano is on loan from Schalke. Another talented youngster Freiburg has taken on loan is Leverkusen’s Richard Sukatu Pasu. Both Pasu and Bartels scored on the opening day.
FC Sankt Pauli vs Hoffenheim Match Report
Despite having lost the game, St. Pauli had their chances. Fabian Boll’s header from close range following a free-kick for St.Pauli hit the bar. Sejad Salihovic had only the keeper to beat when a cross came in from the left but he failed to do so as he couldn’t control the ball.
Tobias Weis then failed to beat Pauli keeper Benedikt Pliquett from a wide angle after the keeper fumbled a shot from midfield. The first half ended 0-0. Rouwen Hennings had a golden chance to open the scoring for St.Pauli but shot just wide of the post in the second half.
Vedad Ibisevic then shot narrowly over the bar from long range. He had an open net at his mercy but could not convert. Isaac Vorsah turned a corner in the 87th minute to give Hoffenheim the lead late into the game.
The game ended 0-1. Hoffenheim have collected maximum points from their first two games of the new season.
