Basically, FC St. Pauli had a double home advantage when the DFB Cup round of 16 was on the program on Tuesday. There was of course the obvious advantage that the game took place in the Millerntor Stadium, deep in the heart of the Hamburg district and in front of at least 2,000 Kiezklub supporters. In the club’s statutes, however, it is also written that you always have to go into a game as an outsider. That’s why the Paulians feel at home in the role of the underdog, who really wipes out the establishment, they happily take away this right to rebellion at any time.
And the establishment that evening was Borussia Dortmund.
The Kiezkicker won 2:1 against last year’s title holder, they deserved to win. “Today was a bad day, we just woke up too late,” said Marco Reus on the ARD microphone. “St. Pauli did well, but it’s very bitter for us that we’re out. We have to let that sink in first. In any case, we missed a huge opportunity to win the cup again.” BVB captain Marco Reus said: “A completely bad day for us, we woke up too late.”
That evening it was less a question of specific tactics, it was more about attitude. The Paulians went into this game with respect, but without any humility, and they brought a lot of physical effort and fearlessness with them. After just four minutes, the leaders of the lower house combined into the penalty area of the runners-up from the first division, the ball reached the center via St. Pauli midfielder Marcel Hartel, where striker Etienne Amenyido, with a bit of luck and at least as much sense, scored to make it 1-0 . An early goal is the first and most important ingredient, but it takes more for a real cup sensation.
Courageous Paulians against uninspired Dortmunders – even after the break it stays that way
For example, a jumpy and slightly nervous favourite, as BVB presented itself after falling behind. St. Pauli stressed the visiting team with courageous pressing, fast advances, and most of all they stressed BVB with their attentive and rigorous defensive group. Dortmund mostly had the ball, but lacked the ideas to advance into the dangerous zones. Defense chief Mats Hummels played a decent pass to Marco Reus in the first half, who missed the chance. There wasn’t much more. And the longer the game lasted, the more secure the Hamburgers felt in their efforts to remain in BVB’s memory as a huge annoyance.
In the 40th minute, St. Pauli laid a solid foundation for this, or rather: BVB midfielder Axel Witsel, who threw himself against a bold attack – and gave the ball the necessary spin with his leg so that it landed in his own goal. 2-0 for St. Pauli. And at least one half for Dortmund to avert the early and definitely not planned cup end.
After the restart, however, the picture was almost the same: courageous Paulians held their ground against uninspired Dortmunders, and the rebellion was no longer really in danger when BVB was granted a questionable penalty after an intervention from the Cologne video cellar. Striker Erling Haaland made it 2-1, but even the Norwegian force of nature couldn’t avert what soccer teams have been failing for months: St. Pauli hasn’t lost a single game at Millerntor this season.