Dženan Pejčinović's late header secures narrow Wolfsburg win over St. Pauli
Dženan Pejčinović's late winner secured a narrow 2-1 victory for Wolfsburg over relegation-threatened St. Pauli at the Volkswagen Arena.
Goals: 1-0 Eriksen 25’ (pen.), 1-1 Smith 40’ (assist: Dźwigała), 2-1 Pejčinović 88’ (assist: Daghim)
Wolfsburg entered this match desperate for a response after suffering their heaviest-ever Bundesliga defeat against Bayern. With just 15 points from 16 matches, Daniel Bauer's side were enduring their worst start to a season in club history.
For Pauli, meanwhile, this was their first match of 2026 after their Matchday 16 fixture against Leipzig was postponed due to heavy snow. The visitors arrived have gone unbeaten in their previous three matches, looking to move within striking distance of their hosts in the table.
Wolfsburg started the brighter of the two sides, with Pejčinović testing Nikola Vasilj with the first meaningful attempt after five minutes. The hosts continued to control possession, but Pauli threatened through Mathias Pereira Lage, who fired just wide from the edge of the box in the 19th minute.
The breakthrough came shortly after when Wolfsburg were awarded a penalty for a handball by Hauke Wahl. Christian Eriksen stepped up and hammered the spot-kick straight down the middle, giving Vasilj no chance.
Smith with the leveller
Pauli should have equalised when Joel Chima Fujita found Ricky-Jade Jones in the penalty area. The forward's first effort was brilliantly saved by Kamil Grabara, but Jones somehow put the rebound wide with the goal at his mercy.
That miss didn't prove costly, however, as five minutes later, Eric Smith drew the visitors level. After good build-up play, the Swedish defender received the ball on the edge of the area before firing a precise shot through the legs of Maximilian Arnold and into the bottom corner.
The away team emerged with renewed purpose after the break, with Fujita particularly influential. The Japanese midfielder forced Grabara into action with a well-struck effort from distance before twice more trying his luck from outside the box.
Wolfsburg responded with a double change on the hour mark as Mohamed Amoura, recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, replaced Lovro Majer. The hosts gradually reasserted themselves, with substitute Adam Daghim testing Vasilj with a powerful shot in the 75th minute.
Just when the match seemed destined for a draw, Wolfsburg struck the decisive blow as full-time approached. Daghim, who had made a significant impact since coming on, delivered a pinpoint cross from the right flank, and Pejčinović rose highest in the penalty area to power a header past Vasilj and into the net.
The goal sparked jubilant celebrations among the Wolfsburg players and supporters and, while Pauli pushed forward in search of an equaliser during the four minutes of added time, the home side held firm to secure a vital three points.
Man of the Match: Eric Smith
Despite ending up on the losing side, Eric Smith was deservedly named Man of the Match. The Swedish defender not only scored Pauli's equaliser with a well-placed finish but also demonstrated outstanding defensive qualities throughout the match.
Smith won numerous challenges, distributed the ball efficiently, and was a constant threat from set-pieces. His performance was reflected in the Fantasy Manager points, where he topped the rankings with 311 points, ahead of even match-winner Pejčinović (250).
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Wolfsburg 1.62 - St. Pauli 0.92
Fastest player: Ricky-Jade Jones (Pauli), 34.76 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-1 by Eric Smith (Pauli), 7.5 percent
Most pressed player: Joel Chima Fujita (Pauli), 21 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Adam Dźwigała (Pauli), +1.71
Fantasy Heroes: Eric Smith (Pauli, 311 Points), Dženan Pejčinović (Wolfsburg, 250 Points), Adam Dźwigała (Pauli, 219 Points)
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