Tapsoba and Poku End St. Pauli's Resistance – Leverkusen Steals Victory at Millerntor

Merece la Pena Puntuación Futmetrix: 57/100. A six-pointer with genuine stakes: Bayer Leverkusen's clinical finishing and substitute brilliance proved too much for St. Pauli's spirited home stand, despite the hosts' dominance in possession.

Tapsoba Strikes Early – St. Pauli Refuses to Fold

From the opening whistle, the Millerntor crackled with intensity. Leverkusen arrived with purpose, and in the 25th minute, they struck: Edmond Tapsoba powered home a header to put the visitors ahead. But St. Pauli showed backbone. Seven minutes later, H. Wahl levelled the score, restoring balance to a match that refused to settle. Three goals in seven minutes proved this was no ordinary affair—the lead changed hands before either side could establish control.

The Turning Point: Poku's Moment of Ruthlessness

The second half belonged to the Werkself. In the 58th minute, the game turned on its axis: substitute E. Poku, on the pitch for just two minutes, finished clinically after Alex Grimaldo's assist to make it 2-1. A super-sub moment that separated the teams. St. Pauli had unleashed 13 shots—more than double Leverkusen's five—yet precision beat volume. The visitors' ruthlessness in front of goal proved decisive where the hosts' pressure could not.

Possession Without Profit – Leverkusen's Defensive Mastery

St. Pauli controlled proceedings with 49% possession and manufactured 13 corners, building relentless pressure. Yet Loïc Badé and Leverkusen's backline stood firm. The lead changed three times—a sign of a match without a clear victor until Poku arrived. Leverkusen's counter-attacking efficiency and defensive discipline ultimately proved more valuable than St. Pauli's territorial dominance. The hosts' inability to convert their superiority into goals cost them dearly in a match where balance tilted decisively in the final third.