Kiraly Mistake Costs 1860

Posted: 11:00 pm, July 19, 2013 by Jonathan Harding

Disappointing and maybe a little underserved, but 1860 once again come away with no points. Photo: DPA

FC St. Pauli 1-0 TSV 1860 Munich
Goals: 1-0 Thy (80’)

Gabor Kiraly’s late error gave the home side all three points in what proved to be a game of two halves. TSV 1860 Munich were second best in the first-half but improved in the second, only to be denied by Lennart Thy’s late strike.

St. Pauli took six points off 1860 last season and looked set to carry on where they left off at the start of the new 2. Bundesliga season, as the hosts were the brighter of the two sides in the opening stages. Soeren Gonther fired a header wide after five minutes before teammate Christopher Nöthe flashed a header of his own wide of the same post.

Having absorbed early pressure, 1860 tried to find their way into the game. Alexander Schmidt’s men enjoyed a bit more possession but lacked the creativity to test the host’s goalkeeper. The intensity levels soon increased and a spate of bookings followed. This affected the flow of the game and the play became scrappy for long periods.

Fin Bartels controlled well but volleyed over and St. Pauli wasted a set-piece opportunity before Rob Friend nearly stole the lead for the visiting side at the end of the first half; his half volley cleared off the line.

The disappointment at the end was reminiscent of a cup final defeat. Photo: DPA

The second period was a reverse of the first as 1860 started in the ascendency. New-signing Yannick Stark was presented with space just inside the box but his effort was well blocked by defender Markus Thorandt, as the home side let 1860 attack. Despite having a lot of the ball in and around St. Pauli’s area, 1860 struggled to produce an end product; 39 league goals last year proves this issue is nothing new.

Just before the hour mark, Mortiz Volz denied Bartels with an important challenge in the area before the outstretched Friend missed out on by a matter of inches after good work by the lively Mortiz Stoppelkamp.

1860 were dominating but a moment of contrasting ability decided the game. St. Pauli striker Lennart Thy turned a defender on the wing, cut inside and unleashed a low, dipping shot at the near post. Kiraly was slow to react and the ball squeezed under him, giving St. Pauli the lead.

Kiraly denied the home side a second in stoppage time as 1860 looked desperately for an equaliser. It was to be in vain though, as the visitors fell to a disappointing, opening-day defeat.

1860’s next game is at home against FSV Frankfurt on Sunday, July 28th. Kick off is at 13:30 CET.

FC St. Pauli: Tschauner – Nehrig (54’ Kalla), Thorandt, Gonther, Halstenberg – Boll, Kringe – Rzatkowski (76’ Buchtmann), Bartels – Noethe (65’ Verhoek), Thy

TSV 1860 Munich: Kiraly – Volz (85’ Tomasov), Vallori, Buelow, Schindler – Stahl (82’ Wood), Stark – Stoppelkamp, Adlung (75’ Lauth) – Friend, Hain

Yellow cards: Tschauner, Gonther, Noethe, Rzatkowski – Friend, Volz
Attendance: 29,000
Referee: Thorsten Kinhoefer