96 missed their first win: St. Pauli saved themselves at the last second

Hannover 96 and St.

96 missed their first win: St. Pauli saved themselves at the last second

Hannover 96 and St. Pauli split 2:2 in the second division game. After an early opening goal by Hamburg, however, the Lower Saxony manage to turn the game around. A controversial penalty kick also helps them.

FC St. Pauli prevented Hannover 96 from winning their first win of the season late in the top game of the 2nd Bundesliga. In the 2:2 (1:1) in front of 33,600 spectators, however, a highly controversial hand penalty, which 96 midfielder Sebastian Kerk converted (33rd minute), helped the Lower Saxony team to equalize against Hamburg.

After the alleged handball by St. Pauli defender Adam Dzwigala, referee Felix Zwayer awarded a penalty in the 30th minute with the help of the video assistant. The "existing camera perspectives" were not sufficient to "unequivocally refute" the referee's perception, the German Football Association tweeted via its referee account.

"If you let it continue, the VAR doesn't intervene, we had luck on our side," said Hannovers Kerk. "At least I found that he whistled relatively quickly, which surprised me," said Pauli captain Leart Paqarada, but emphasized: "If he gives it, it's difficult to take it back. I don't blame Mr. Zwayer for that ."

St. Pauli initially took advantage of the home side's unfocused start: attacker Johannes Eggestein (4th), who had switched to the Elbe from the Belgian club Royal Antwerpen, scored right at the start of the game. Derrick Köhn (71st) made it 2-1 with his deflected shot. Jackson Irvine rewarded his good game and shocked Hannover late on with the equalizer (90.5).