St Pauli strike late to earn point against Gladbach

Dapo Afolayan’s late equaliser earned FC St. Pauli a point at home to Gladbach.

FC St. Pauli and Borussia Mönchengladbach played out a 1-1 draw in the early Bundesliga fixture on Sunday. 

It was the home side who made the better start, with young Tiago Pereira Cardoso in the Gladbach goal denying them several times in the first half. 

Instead, the away side took the lead against the run of play on the stroke of half-time when Ko Itakura scored from a corner. 

Alassane Pléa wasted a golden opportunity to double the lead early in the second half when he headed straight at Nikola Vasilj. 

For the most part, though, Gladbach were content to sit back and defend their lead, but they couldn’t hold on until the final whistle. 

In the 85th minute, St. Pauli finally found the net when substitute Oladapo Afolayan smashed the ball into the net. 

It was a vital point for the Hamburg side, who sit just above the relegation zone in 15th, four points clear of Heidenheim. 

The Fohlen, meanwhile, are sixth and missed out on a chance to leapfrog fifth-placed Leipzig.