1. FC Heidenheim defeated FC St. Pauli 2-0 at the Voith-Arena, with early strikes from Berat Zivzivadze and Eren Dinkçi securing a crucial victory for the home side.
Heidenheim entered the match sitting 18th in the Bundesliga table with just 19 points from 30 games. St. Pauli arrived in 16th place with 26 points, looking to climb away from the relegation battle. Both teams desperately needed a win to improve their league standing and build momentum in the final weeks of the season.
The home side struck with stunning speed. Just three minutes into the match, Berat Zivzivadze fired past St. Pauli's goalkeeper to give Heidenheim an early lead. The lightning-quick goal set the tone for a confident opening performance from the hosts.
St. Pauli responded with possession and pressure, controlling 55% of the ball through the first half. However, they struggled to convert their dominance into clear chances. The visitors managed just two shots on target during the opening 45 minutes.
Heidenheim defended their lead carefully but remained dangerous on the counter-attack. Diant Ramaj made two important saves to keep St. Pauli at bay. The home side's defensive unit, led by Patrick Mainka and Hennes Behrens, held firm despite sustained pressure.
The first half ended with Heidenheim ahead 1-0. St. Pauli had created opportunities but failed to find the back of the net. Heidenheim's early aggression had paid dividends, and they held the advantage heading into the break.
St. Pauli pushed harder after halftime, searching for an equalizer. The away side continued to dominate possession and created more chances, but their finishing remained poor. Nikola Vasilj made three saves to keep his team in the contest.
In the 76th minute, midfielder M. Kaars received a yellow card for St. Pauli. The caution signaled the frustration building in the visitors' camp as they chased the game without reward.
Eren Dinkçi sealed the victory in the 82nd minute with Heidenheim's second goal. The striker's finish ended any hope of a St. Pauli comeback and sent the home crowd into celebration. Dinkçi finished with a rating of 8.2 and converted both his shots on target.
Statistically, Heidenheim managed 12 total shots with five on target. St. Pauli attempted 11 shots but only two found the target. Expected goals favored Heidenheim 1.44 to 1.11. The home side's 45% possession proved enough to secure three points through clinical finishing.
This victory moves Heidenheim closer to safety as they bid to escape the relegation zone. St. Pauli must regroup quickly and find their scoring touch if they hope to secure survival in the remaining matches.
