Kramarić extends scoring streak to help Hoffenheim beat St. Pauli

Three second-half goals helped Hoffenheim to a deserved victory away at St. Pauli.

After 49 consecutive matches that saw at least 1,000 away fans at Millerntor-Stadion, that streak came to an end with only 750 devoted Hoffenheim supporters making the 600-kilometer trip to Hamburg for the match. That was the lowest away attendance in St. Pauli since Heidenheim arrived with 650 fans three years ago.

There was something to cheer for the traveling squad inside the first ten minutes. The in-form attacker Fisnik Asllani scored a beautiful goal, although the celebration was a short-lived one since he received the ball from an offside position.

They also had the next big chance to score the opening goal of the match. Tim Lemperle rattled the woodwork with a first-time effort from a weighted pass by Vladimír Coufal.

It took 40 minutes for St. Pauli to create their first clear-cut chance when Martijn Kaars failed to beat the current Germany #1 as Oliver Baumann stood his ground in a one-on-one clash. Baumann also had to be alert to defend Eric Smith’s wide free-kick before the half-time whistle as the hosts enjoyed their best spell of the half.

The visitors came back strongly after the restart with three great chances inside the first six minutes. Nikola Vasilj first prevented an own-goal from Lars Ritzka after some good work by the 19-year-old Bazoumana Touré on the left flank. St. Pauli’s goalkeeper then denied Andrej Kramarić after a brilliant pass by Touré.

The hosts also survived when Lemperle’s header narrowly missed the target, but Hoffenheim and Touré got their deserved break in the 54th minute. The Ivory Coast international scored his first goal for the club after a well-worked move that included a brilliant through pass by Kramarić.

The Croat followed it up with a goal five minutes later, with yet another excellent buildup play by the visitors. St. Pauli is the 27th Bundesliga club to concede a goal by Kramarić in his magnificent career. Greuther Fürth is the only club to prevent him from scoring from the 28 Bundesliga teams he has faced.

Hoffenheim sealed the win with the third goal ten minutes from time. Wouter Burger sets up the substitute Grischa Prömel for their first goal of the season from a counterattack. The former Union Berlin midfielder also had a chance to complete his brace.

Ozan Kabak made his long-awaited comeback from a serious injury late in the game. St. Pauli finally managed to put the ball in the net, but Danel Sinani’s free-kick strike was chalked off because of Smith’s intervention from an offside position.

The two teams will meet again in the same stadium at the end of the month. Before that DFB-Pokal second round tie, Hoffenheim will have a chance to further climb in the Bundesliga standings when they host a struggling Heidenheim side. St. Pauli will travel to Frankfurt for their next weekend’s league fixture.