1. FC Köln rescued a late draw against FC St. Pauli on Friday evening. Karol Mets opened the scoring for the hosts in the 69th minute, only for a Luca Waldschmidt to keep his cool from the spot in the 86th minute to secure a share of the spoils.
Team news
Alexander Blessin opted for one alteration after the defeat to Bayern last time out. Jackson Irvine came in for Joel Chima Fujita in midfield.
René Wagner made one change to the side that started against Werder Bremen last weekend. Alessio Castro-Montes replaced Kristoffer Lund at left-back.
Goalless first-half
FC started the game strongly and had the first two chances of note. Jakub Kamiński drove into the Sankt Pauli box after a nicking the ball off two defenders, only to see his effort bravely blocked by Hauke Wahl. Moments later, Said El Mala was set through by Ragnar Ache. His effort from the edge of the area was well over the bar, however.
As the half went on, the hosts grew into the game. Andreas Hountondji had both of their best openings. After a flicked header from Tomoya Ando, he was unable to direct any power on his effort just yards away from the goalline. His second shot was more troublesome, drawing a superb save from Marvin Schwäbe from close range.
Despite the best efforts of both sides to make a late breakthrough, Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck’s whistle sounded with the teams level at the break.
Late leveller
The second-half saw René Wagner bring on Linton Maina for Jan Thielmann at half-time. A second sub followed not long after as Ragnar Ache was forced off through injury. Marius Bülter came on in his place and made a superb goal-line clearance to deny Tomoya Ando’s header as the hosts continued to build a head of steam.
Despite Said El Mala cracking the crossbar with a dipping, swerving shot from 20 yards, Sankt Pauli’s pressure paid dividends. A corner to the back post was headed back across goal by Hauke Wahl, with Karol Mets stooping to nod home the opening goal in the 69th minute.
The onus was then on FC to make a way back into the game. Chances were few and far between until Jakub Kamiński burst into the box and was brought down by goalscorer Mets. After a VAR check, Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck pointed to the spot and Luca Waldschmidt sent Nikola Vasilj the wrong way from 12 yards to secure a vital point.
Thanks to the draw, René Wagner’s side remain five points clear of tonight’s opposition. FC are next in action on Saturday, 25th April against Bayer Leverkusen. Kick-off at the RheinEnergieSTADION is at 15:30 CEST.
Line-ups
FC St. Pauli (3-4-2-1): Vasilj – Ando, Wahl, Mets – Pyrka, Rasmussen, Irvine, Ritzka (Saliakas 65‘) – Sinani, Pereira Lage (Kaars 87‘) – Houtondji (Metcalfe 77‘).
1. FC Köln (4-2-2-2): Schwäbe – Sebulonsen (Waldschmidt 79‘), Simpson-Pusey, Cenk, Castro-Montes (Lund 70‘) – Jóhannesson (Chávez 79‘), Martel – Thielmann (Maina 46‘), Kamiński – Ache (Bülter 51‘), El Mala.
Goals: 1:0, Mets 69‘. 1:1, Waldschmidt (PEN) 86‘.
Referee: Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck (Freiburg).
Booked: Hountondji (71‘), Ando (76‘), Pereira Lage (87‘), El Mala (87‘), Sinani (90+6‘).
Attendance: 29,546 (sold-out).