Omar Marmoush's strike helps Eintracht Frankfurt down St. Pauli
Eintracht Frankfurt secured a narrow 1-0 victory over St. Pauli on Matchday 16, with Omar Marmoush's first-half goal the difference between the two sides at the Millerntor Stadion.
St. Pauli 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 0-1 Marmoush 32'
Frankfurt arrived in Hamburg looking to maintain their position in the top three, while St. Pauli were desperate for points to climb away from the relegation zone. The hosts had shown signs of improvement before the winter break, securing a crucial away win against VfB Stuttgart. Frankfurt, on the other hand, were winless in their last three matches and eager to reignite their title challenge.
Marmoush breaks the deadlock
The first half was dominated by Eintracht, who controlled possession and created several chances. Marmoush was particularly active, testing Nikola Vasilj early on. The breakthrough came in the 32nd minute when Marmoush capitalised on a defensive error to fire home from close range. The goal was Marmoush's 14th of the season - putting him level at the top of goalscoring charts with Harry Kane - highlighting his importance to Frankfurt's campaign. St. Pauli had their moments too, with Carlo Boukhalfa hitting the post in first-half stoppage time.
St. Pauli fight back
The second half saw a resurgent St. Pauli side push hard for an equaliser. The hosts created numerous chances, with Jackson Irvine forcing a save from Kevin Trapp in the 55th minute. Frankfurt weren't without their opportunities, as Rasmus Kristensen struck the crossbar shortly after the hour mark. The match remained on a knife-edge, with both teams hitting the woodwork twice over the course of the game. Despite St. Pauli's pressure, including a late effort from Scott Banks that struck the crossbar, Frankfurt's defence held firm to secure the victory.
Player of the Match: Omar Marmoush
Marmoush was undoubtedly the standout performer, proving to be the difference-maker in a tightly contested match. His goal in the 32nd minute was the culmination of a relentless first-half display, during which he was his side's most dangerous player by some distance. Marmoush's movement and positioning consistently troubled the St. Pauli defence, and his clinical finishing when it mattered most secured the three points for Frankfurt.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: St. Pauli 2.33 - Frankfurt 1.6
Fastest player: Nnamdi Collins (Frankfurt), 33.82 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Omar Marmoush (Frankfurt), 11 percent
Most pressed player: Omar Marmoush (Frankfurt), 25 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Rasmus Kristensen (Frankfurt), +4.2
Fantasy Heroes: Manolis Saliakas (St. Pauli, 240 Points), Omar Marmoush (Frankfurt, 237 Points), Kevin Trapp (Frankfurt, 217 Points)
Related news
Bundesliga top scorer's race
Kane leads the way so far this campaign, but there is a wealth of attacking talents ready hot in pursuit...
Frankfurt in talks with Man City over Marmoush transfer
Eintracht's talisman and top scorer this season was not in the squad for the team's Matchday 18 meeting with Dortmund.
Marmoush shines in Frankfurt triumph
The Egyptian's goal and two assists inspired Frankfurt to a commanding 4-1 win over Freiburg.