FC St. Pauli secured a vital 2-1 victory over Werder Bremen at the Millerntor-Stadion, with Joel Chima Fujita's late winner igniting their Bundesliga survival hopes.
FC St. Pauli claimed a hard-fought 2-1 win against Werder Bremen. Joel Chima Fujita proved the hero, netting the decisive goal in the 70th minute. This crucial result delighted the passionate home crowd.
This Bundesliga clash was a true 'six-pointer' for both clubs. St. Pauli sat 17th with 17 points, while Bremen were just above them in 16th with 19. Both teams desperately needed points to escape the relegation zone.
The match began with high intensity and early bookings. Werder Bremen's Ilias Schmidt received a yellow card in the seventh minute for roughing. St. Pauli's Max Kaars also saw yellow for a similar offense in the 29th minute.
Despite the early cautions, neither side managed to break the deadlock during the opening half. Werder Bremen controlled more of the ball and pressed forward. St. Pauli defended stoutly, preventing clear chances.
The first half ended goalless, setting the stage for a tense second period. Both managers surely sought a decisive tactical change. Fans eagerly awaited more attacking football after the interval.
The game burst into life after the break. St. Pauli made an early substitution, bringing on Myrto Pereira Lage in the 53rd minute. Just two minutes later, Hauke Wahl put the home side ahead.
Wahl guided home a goal in the 55th minute, assisted by Danel Sinani. However, Werder Bremen responded quickly. Substitute Jovan Milošević, on for just a minute, equalized in the 62nd minute.
The Millerntor erupted again as Joel Chima Fujita restored St. Pauli's lead. He capitalized on Manolis Saliakas' assist, slotting home in the 70th minute. A flurry of yellow cards followed, reflecting the match's fiery nature.
St. Pauli secured their win despite lower possession, 42% to Bremen's 58%. Werder Bremen also had more shots, 13 to St. Pauli's 4. However, St. Pauli proved more clinical, with an xG of just 0.21 compared to Bremen's 1.61, highlighting their efficiency.
This crucial victory lifts FC St. Pauli, giving them renewed hope in the Bundesliga survival battle. Werder Bremen, meanwhile, remain dangerously close to the bottom. They must regroup quickly for their next fixture.
