SC Freiburg triumphs late against St. Pauli with own goal

In a gripping Bundesliga home match, FC St. Pauli suffered a heartbreaking defeat to SC Freiburg, losing 0-1 due to an own goal just before the final whistle. The match was charged with the ongoing debate regarding the club’s anthem and featured a sibling rivalry between the Eggestein brothers.

Late Own Goal Decides Match

The decisive goal for the sixth-placed SC Freiburg came in the 88th minute when Philipp Treu inadvertently redirected a shot from Christian Günter into his own net. This match marked Freiburg’s third consecutive 1-0 victory, enhancing their chances in the Europa League race. The incident overshadowed Vincenzo Grifo’s bizarre missed penalty just before halftime (45th minute).

Struggles for St. Pauli

For the promoted team from Hamburg, it was a disappointing afternoon. Shortly after the own goal, American newcomer James Sands appeared to sustain a serious knee injury.

Controversy Surrounding the Club Anthem

Before the match, tensions mounted at Millerntor as president Oke Göttlich and security chief Sven Brux explained over the stadium microphones the decision to no longer play the club’s anthem “Herz von St. Pauli” before home matches for the first time in 20 years. This decision stemmed from the historical background of the song’s lyricist, researched by the club’s museum staff. The announcement sparked divided reactions from fans, with some applauding while others booed the president.

Sibling Rivalry: Eggestein vs. Eggestein

The encounter between Johannes Eggestein from St. Pauli and Maximilian Eggestein from Freiburg was more amicable. Both brothers grew up in Hannover, trained at Werder Bremen, and faced challenges throughout the match. St. Pauli’s Eggestein, playing as a lone striker, rarely received the ball, while Freiburg’s Eggestein also struggled to create opportunities against St. Pauli’s organized defense.

Missed Opportunities and Defensive Play

Freiburg had the upper hand in chances, with Ritsu Doan coming close in the 13th minute, only to be thwarted by a precise save from St. Pauli’s goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Grifo’s free kick narrowly missed the target (43rd minute), followed by his failed penalty attempt, which was easily saved by Vasilj.

Despite having four former Freiburg players on their roster, St. Pauli found it difficult to adapt to Freiburg’s style of play. St. Pauli continued to struggle offensively after the break, with hurried attempts at counterattacks failing to convert into meaningful shots on goal. A late push in the final ten minutes yielded little, aside from a notable header opportunity for Jackson Irvine (85th minute).

Freiburg, despite their dominance, also failed to capitalize on their chances for a significant portion of the match. Grifo’s powerful free kick in the 57th minute was again met by a strong save from Vasilj, keeping the match tightly contested until the very end.