Stunning Kevin Stöger free-kick helps Borussia Mönchengladbach past St. Pauli
Kevin Stöger scored a sensational free-kick as Borussia Mönchengladbach eased their relegation fears with a crucial victory over fellow strugglers St. Pauli at Borussia-Park.
Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 St. PauliGoals: 1-0 Stöger 37', 2-0 Honorat 62' (assist: Scally)
Gladbach came into Friday’s game four places but only one point above 16th-placed St. Pauli in the Bundesliga standings. The Foals had ended a run of seven league games without victory against Union Berlin on Matchday 24, but a 4-1 reverse at runaway leaders Bayern Munich last weekend left Eugen Polanski’s side in desperate need of another three points to boost their hopes of survival.
St. Pauli have been much improved since the turn of the year but despite picking up three wins from their previous five league encounters, Alexander Blessin’s charges travelled to Borussia-Park in the relegation play-off position on account of their inferior goal difference to Mainz and Cologne.
The Foals enjoyed plenty of possession in the early stages but were unable to turn their dominance into an opener. Haris Tabaković failed to make proper contact with a teasing cross from Hugo Bolin, who couldn’t get on the end of Nico Elvedi’s lofted delivery moments later.
St. Pauli gradually grew into the contest and fashioned the best chance of the half after 27 minutes. Lars Ritzka’s cross from the left rolled invitingly across the six-yard box to Joel Chima Fujita, whose first-time effort was brilliantly clawed away by Moritz Nicolas.
The home side eventually made the breakthrough with the interval approaching. After Eric Smith had fouled Yannik Engelhardt 25 metres from goal, Stöger stepped up to curl a magnificent free-kick over the visitors’ wall and into the top corner for his first goal of the season - and Gladbach's first strike from a direct free-kick in over five years.
St. Pauli emerged from the break with renewed purpose, pinning the hosts back inside their own half early in the second period. Gladbach, however, doubled their advantage just 12 minutes after the restart when Franck Honorat - who had only just come off the bench - converted Joe Scally’s cut-back with the help off a minor deflection off Adam Dźwigała.
Honorat struck the post for Gladbach late on, although the goal wouldn’t have counted as Lukas Ullrich was adjudged to have committed a foul in the build-up. Jackson Irvine then fired over the bar at the other end as St. Pauli sought a late consolation, but there was no way back for the visitors.
Man of the Match: Kevin Stöger
On his 200th Bundesliga appearance, Stöger delivered when his team needed him most.
The Austrian midfielder’s spectacular free-kick was the highlight of an impressive all-round display on Friday evening. Beyond his goal, Stöger dictated play from midfield, completing more passes in the final third than any other Gladbach player and creating several promising opportunities for his side.
The 30-year-old finished the match with three shots – more than any other player on the pitch – as he deservedly claimed the Man of the Match award with 64 percent of the votes.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Borussia Mönchengladbach 0.97 - St. Pauli 0.54
Fastest player: Arkadiusz Pyrka (St. Pauli), 33.42 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Kevin Stöger (Gladbach), 8.59 percent
Most pressed player: Eric Smith (St. Pauli), 22 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Nico Elvedi (Gladbach), 3.77
Fantasy Heroes: Joe Scally (Gladbach, 277 Points), Kevin Stöger (Gladbach, 257 Points), Eric Smith (Gladbach, 261 Points)
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