Eintracht Norderstedt narrowly lost a thrilling DFB-Pokal first-round match against FC St. Pauli, falling 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw following extra time. The Regionalliga side delivered a spirited performance, pushing their Bundesliga opponents to the limit.
The match saw St. Pauli dominate possession and create numerous chances, but Norderstedt goalkeeper Huxsohl proved to be a formidable barrier throughout the contest. He made several key saves in the first half, denying efforts from Wahl and Pereira Lange. By halftime, despite 19 shots from St. Pauli, the score remained level.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Huxsohl continuing to frustrate the Bundesliga side, thwarting chances from Sinani and Oppie, as well as a shot from Pereira Lange that struck the crossbar. Norderstedt grew into the game during extra time, creating opportunities of their own, notably through Brendel. However, a late save from Vasilj and another stop against Ampofo kept the scores level.
The match ultimately went to penalties. Oppie, Sinani and Nemeth successfully converted for St. Pauli. For Norderstedt, Gross and Frahm scored, but penalties were missed by Koch, Brendel and Behounek, alongside efforts from Wahl and Fujita. This secured St. Pauli’s progression to the next round.
In a separate first-round match, FV Illertissen upset 1. FC Nürnberg, winning 6-5 in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw after normal time.