Despite the strange slapstick goal
St. Pauli ends Homburg’s cup fairytale
December 5, 2023, 10:54 p.m
Even a strange goal is not enough: second division leaders St. Pauli dismantle fourth division club FC Homburg. After a strong second half, Hamburg moved into the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup.
Second division leaders FC St. Pauli have ended the cup fairytale of the rebellious FC Homburg. Coach Fabian Hürzeler’s team beat the Saarland regional league team 4-1 (1-1) despite conceding a strange goal and, like two years ago, reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup.
After the victories in the first two rounds against Darmstadt 98 (3:0) and SpVgg Greuther Fürth (2:1), favorite terror Homburg missed the next sensation – although captain Michael Mendler also scored thanks to a field error (28th). However, Hauke Wahl (24th), Elias Saad (64th), Marcel Hartel (69th) and Johannes Eggestein (73rd) shot the undefeated Hamburg team to victory.
“It wasn’t a good game for us in the first half. After the break we showed some of our true colors,” said Hartel. Despite the bankruptcy, Homburg’s Mendler spoke of a “very great cup run. It’s a shame that it’s over.”
A strange goal
The Homburg footballers had been working hard for their “game of life” days before kick-off. Due to the freezing temperatures, they laid tarpaulins on the lawn and shoveled snow. As expected, the guests initially took the initiative in the game. St. Pauli dominated – and celebrated when Wahl took the lead out of the crowd.
However, Homburg repeatedly countered cheekily and gave the right answer: a short free kick from the guests in the penalty area bounced over the foot of goalkeeper Sascha Burchert, so that Mendler only had to push in. The underdog showed the “David versus Goliath mentality” that Hürzeler had warned about.
The leaders of the Regionalliga Südwest gradually ran out of strength over the course of the second half. However, St. Pauli initially only created a few notable chances. A cross from Eric Smith then landed right at Saad, who ice-cold scored to take the lead. Hartel scored a dream goal and Eggestein ensured even more calm.