Kaars Brace Keeps St. Pauli Alive in Relegation Battle at Millerntor

Merece la Pena Puntuación Futmetrix: 57/100. A six-pointer between two relegation-haunted sides was decided by Martijn Kaars' clinical finishing and St. Pauli's resolute character in a wild encounter at the Millerntor-Stadion.

Kaars' Clinical Finishing Breaks Heidenheim's Resistance

The Millerntor erupted with intensity as both sides fought for their survival. Kaars struck twice—first in the 35th minute when Joel Chima Fujita supplied a perfect assist, then again in the 53rd to put St. Pauli 2-0 up. The home side's efficiency was ruthless: just eight shots (five on target) yielded maximum reward. Fujita orchestrated the attack with four key passes and two assists, a creative fulcrum in St. Pauli's counter-attacking setup.

Smith's Red Card Tests St. Pauli's Nerve

The stakes intensified in the 45th minute when E. Smith received a straight red for holding. St. Pauli faced the second half with ten men against a side that seized the numerical advantage with ruthless intent. Heidenheim dominated possession (63%) and unleashed 20 shots—a relentless barrage that pinned the Kiez deep. M. Pieringer pulled one back in the 64th, assisted by substitute S. Schimmer (brought on at the 46th mark). Yet Nikola Vasilj was immense between the sticks—six crucial saves kept the visitors at bay while Heidenheim's goalkeeper made just two interventions.

Efficiency Trumps Dominance

The metrics tell a story of balance defied: 14 corners for Heidenheim against four; 28 shots to eight; an xG of 2.13 versus 0.80. Yet football rewards clinical execution, not statistical superiority. St. Pauli showed the grit, composure, and ruthless finishing required in a relegation dogfight—three qualities Heidenheim lacked when it mattered most. In the Abstiegskampf, character counts as much as possession.