FC St. Pauli

Olaf Janßen made one change to the team that drew 1-1 at Sandhausen on Monday evening thanks to a last-minute strike by Jan-Marc Schneider, Jeremy Dudziak returning to the starting lineup in place of Waldemar Sobota. Bernd Nehrig dropped back into the middle of a back three with the aim of cranking up the attacking motor from there.

The game began brightly, with St. Pauli looking to get forward at every opportunity. Aue appeared slightly surprised by the early onslaught but were able to keep the Boys in Brown at bay in the opening stages. The visitors took a while to get into the game, and when the ball did fall to striker Pascal Köpke following an attempt by Christian Tiffert in the 13^th minute, he was unable to bring it under control.

Following a brief lull in the play the visitors plucked up more courage going forward, which opened up space for the Boys in Brown. Mats Møller Dæhli, Sami Allagui and Jeremy Dudziak all had opportunities to test Martin Männel in the Aue goal. There was nothing the keeper could do in the 33^rd minute, however. Johannes Flum toe-poked the ball to Luca Zander, who produced a neat backheel to find Dudziak, and he drove the ball into the net off the underside of the crossbar. Janßen's side should really have doubled their lead two minutes later, but Buchtmann was denied by Männel and then Fabian Kalig stepped in at the last moment to clear the danger with Sami Allagui waiting to pounce.

Luca Zander (back), Lasse Sobiech (right) and goalscorer Jeremy Dudziak celebrate the opener.

The situation played into the home side's hands, of course, as it meant the Violets had to open up, leaving the Boys in Brown with chances to break. But it was a set piece that almost brought a second goal on 49 minutes. Lasse Sobiech headed a cross down for Allagui, who attempted an acrobatic overhead kick, but the ball cleared the crossbar by some distance.

Overall, the game lacked momentum in the early stages of the second half, which meant the Boys in Brown had little trouble fending off the attacking efforts of the visitors. But with 69 minutes gone Köpke suddenly popped up in front of Robin Himmelmann, and he did well to turn the shot round the post for a corner from a narrow angle. The Boys in Brown cleared the first ball in at the expense of another corner, but this time the ball fell kindly for Dennis Kempe in a goalmouth scramble and he bundled the ball over the line.

The onus was now on Olaf Janßen's side, of course, as the objective on this Friday evening was the second home win of the season. The St. Pauli boss responded by introducing a second striker in the shape of Schneider after 79 minutes, moments after Buchtmann had seen Männel turn a shot into the side netting following a rapid counterthrust. The Boys in Brown kept knocking on the door in the closing stages but eventually had to settle for their third draw in a row.

FC St. Pauli

Himmelmann – Sobiech, Nehrig, Avevor – Dudziak, Buchtmann, Flum (Sobota 73'), Buballa (Schneider 79') – Zander, Møller Dæhli – Allagui

Head coach: Olaf Janßen

FC Erzgebirge Aue

Männel – Rizzuto, Kalig, Wydra, Rapp, Kempe – Tiffert, Riese (Fandrich 70'), Kvesic – Köpke (Cacutalua 90'), Bertram (Bunjaku 56')

Head coach: Hannes Drews

Goals: 1-0 Dudziak (33'), 1-1 Kempe (70')

Yellow cards: Buchtmann, Allagui - Wydra, Kempe, Rizzuto

Referee: Benedikt Kempkes

Attendance: 28,742

Photos: Witters