FC St. Pauli draw 2-2 at Holstein Kiel; late equaliser on Rapp’s return.

FC St. Pauli draw 2-2 at Holstein Kiel; late equaliser on Rapp’s return.

FC St. Pauli | Boys in Brown denied by late equaliser on Rapp’s…

Boys in Brown denied by late equaliser on Rapp’s return to Kiel

FC St. Pauli drew 2-2 at Holstein Kiel in their first away game of the season. Martijn Kaars and Taichi gave the Boys in Brown a first-half lead, only for Phil Harres and Jonas Therkelsen to restore parity for the home side in the second period.

FCSP head coach Marcel Rapp saw no reason to change his starting lineup from the 1–1 draw against Greuther Fürth last week. On his return to his former club—Rapp managed Kiel from October 2021 to February 2026—the 47-year-old named new signing Dimitar Mitov as his back-up keeper and also gave the nod to fit-again Sam Klein. His successor, Tim Walter, also named an unchanged side following the 2–2 draw at Darmstadt on the opening day.

With the temperature hovering above 30 degrees, Martijn Kaars had the first big chance of the game early on. Mathias Rasmussen sent the Dutchman on his way after Joel Chima Fujita had won possession to launch a quick transition. But with only Timon Weiner to beat, Kaars hit his shot straight at the keeper. The action continued at a lively pace and Kiel went close from their opening corner. Ivan Nekić met the ball at the near post and directed his shot just over. Kiel saw more of the ball in the opening quarter of an hour and created the next chance when the Boys in Brown lost possession during the build-up under the home counterpress. Ben Voll was called into action for the first time, making an assured save to deny Guillermo Balzi.

The hosts continued to threaten and with 19 minutes gone Hiroki Sekine pinged a distance effort wide of the right-hand post. After a well-earned drinks break, there were some niggling fouls and from one of the subsequent free-kicks the ball found its way to David Nemeth via a series of deflections. His header flew well over, however. Kiel remained a threat and tested Voll a second time just after the half-hour. Alexander Bernhardsson tried his luck, but the keeper again came out on top.

Shortly afterwards, the Boys in Brown took the lead. Branimir Hrgota’s through ball ricocheted off a defender and Kaars took advantage. This time, the striker kept his cool in front of Weiner and slotted home to open the scoring. Kiel brushed themselves done and continued to play bold attacking football. Bernhardsson sowed some confusion with a mazy run through the FCSP defence, fashioning the next big chance for Phil Harres. He failed to make a proper connection, however, allowing Pyrka to make a crucial clearance before the ball could cross the line.

The Polish full-back was soon in the spotlight again in time added on when he stole the ball off a defender with a resolute challenge on the edge of the box and cut the ball back to Taichi Hara, who made no mistake from eleven metres – a psychologically crucial moment on the stroke of half-time. There was still time for Louis Oppie to go close, Weiner producing an outstanding save to keep out his left-foot shot. Three-nil would have been too harsh on Kiel at that stage, it has to be said.

Both teams emerged unchanged for the second period and both hit the ground running. Nemeth fired wide from around 20 metres three minutes in before Harres was denied by Voll from the right channel. The Kiel man went one better seven minutes later. Bernhardsson broke through on the right and delivered a cross into the penalty area, where Harres outjumped his marker to halve the deficit with a header. The home side kept up the pressure and transitioned quickly time and again, and Voll had to pull out the stops once again to gather Kaprálik’s left-foot drive on the hour. Both teams continued to exchange blows, and when Pyrka scampered down the right and dispatched a perfect cross onto the head of Kaars, Weiner threw up a hand to make a fine save.

Chances came thick and fast during this phase. Kaars wrongfooted a defender in the penalty area and unleashed a left-foot shot that drew another save from Weiner. Goalscorer Hara and Fujita, who was on a yellow card, then made way for Ricky-Jade Jones and Eric Smith. It remained a high-intensity affair, though clear-cut opportunities failed to materialise for the time being.

That changed in the closing stages when Scott Banks—on for Hrgota—whipped a cross into the penalty area and Jones and Kaars both came within a whisker of adding a third goal for their colours. Sam Klein came on to make his competitive debut for the Boys in Brown with five minutes left but he could only look on as Harres headed a long cross back into the middle for Kiel substitute Jonas Therkelsen to level from close range. Rapp’s side went in search of a winner in the four minutes of time added on, but their efforts proved in vain and it ended all square, a fair reflection of the proceedings overall.

Weiner – Parduzi (Alidou 86’), Zec, Nekić, Sekine – Meffert – Kaprálik, Davidsen, Balzi (Therkelsen 74’), Bernhardsson – Harres

Voll – Andō, Mathisen, Nemeth – Oppie, Rasmussen, Fujita (Smith 64’), Pyrka – Hrgota (Banks 80’), Kaars (Klein 85’) – Hara (Jones 64’)

Goals : 0-1 Kaars (32’), 0-2 Hara (45’+3), 1-2 Harres (56’), 2-2 Therkelsen (88’)

Yellow cards : Balzi, Weiner, Davidsen – Rasmussen, Fujita, Jones

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