FC St. Pauli fought valiantly to earn a 1-1 draw against Union Berlin, with goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj's eight saves proving pivotal at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
A hard-fought Bundesliga clash on April 5, 2026, saw both sides share the points in a dramatic encounter. The draw was a testament to St. Pauli's defensive resolve, especially after a late red card.
Union Berlin, sitting 12th in the league, aimed to push further up the table. Meanwhile, 16th-placed FC St. Pauli desperately sought points in their battle against relegation. The atmosphere was electric, as expected from an Iron Union home fixture.
The home side started with intent, dominating possession and pushing for an early breakthrough. Their attacking midfielders looked to thread passes into dangerous areas. Union created several half-chances in the opening exchanges.
However, against the run of play, FC St. Pauli struck first. M. Pereira Lage found the back of the net in the 25th minute. He capitalized on a defensive lapse to fire home, giving the visitors a surprising lead.
Union responded by increasing their attacking pressure, but they found Nikola Vasilj in inspired form. The St. Pauli goalkeeper made a string of impressive saves, denying Union's forwards multiple times. The visitors defended their box fiercely to protect their narrow advantage.
At the half-time whistle, Union Berlin knew they needed more precision in front of goal. FC St. Pauli would have focused on maintaining their defensive structure and frustrating the home crowd.
The second half began with Union pressing high. Their persistence quickly paid off. Andrej Ilić restored parity for Union Berlin in the 52nd minute. Derrick Köhn provided a crucial assist, setting up Ilić for a clinical finish.
Following the equalizer, both managers turned to their benches for fresh legs. FC St. Pauli introduced M. Kaars at 60 minutes, followed by J. Fujita at 73 minutes, to inject new energy. Union also made changes, bringing on Jeong Woo-Yeong at 73 minutes and Oliver Burke at 80 minutes to find a winner.
The closing stages saw mounting tension. St. Pauli's Jackson Irvine received a yellow card at 85 minutes for a late tackle. He then saw a second yellow, followed by a red card, in the 93rd minute for a tripping foul. The visitors were reduced to ten men for the final moments.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, St. Pauli held firm. Union Berlin finished with a significantly higher Expected Goals (xG) of 1.94 compared to St. Pauli's 0.33. Union also registered 17 total shots, with 8 on target, while St. Pauli managed 9 shots and 2 on target. Union controlled 55% of possession, but Vasilj's 8 saves were the story of the match.
The 1-1 draw leaves Union Berlin in 12th position, missing an opportunity to climb the table. For FC St. Pauli, remaining 16th, this hard-earned point is crucial in their ongoing fight to avoid relegation. They will take confidence from frustrating a stronger opponent.
