Dunfermline 0 FC St Pauli 3

Pre Season Friendly: Johannes Eggestein (10) 0-1: Hauke Wahl (49) 0-2: David Otto (77) 0-3:

German 2.Bundesliga club St Pauli were the very welcome visitors to the KDM Group East End Park for this first match in the pre season of the 2023-2024 season. St Pauli were the first German visitors since Borussia Dortmund played in Dunfermline in August 1967.

The sides entered to noisy stadium with the St Pauli fans in the East Stand flying five huge flags brown, white and red. The teams lined up in the centre circle before shaking hands and the visitors heading off to greet their supporters behind the goal.

Craig Wighton got the match underway with the Pars attacking the goal at the St Pauli end but it was the visitors Bennet Wilson who got the first attempt on goal, his overhead kick in the third minute going straight to keeper Deniz Mehmet.

The German side threatened again with Wilson forcing Mehmet to turn his effort around the keeper’s right hand post. A further corner following before the ball was safely in Mehmet’s possession again. Next chance however led to the opening goal. The ball was dribbled in from the left, along the byeline and when the defence could not stop it, Johannes EGGESTEIN drilled the ball home from close in. 0-1

Dunfermline’s response immediately won a corner on the left and Joe Chalmers delivery fell to Chris Hamilton on the far side of the box but his well struck shot was blocked. This was only brief respite however since the visitors again had a spell of possession that took them well into the Pars half.

The next good chance was created for Wilson when a deflected cross landed for him and he played a cheeky back flick narrowly wide of the Pars left upright. Dunfermline forced a 33rd minute free kick on the right but Chalmers cross was just too high for Kyle Benedictus at the back post. Mehmet then made a fine one on one save when Wilson was played through leaving the defence in his wake. The Pars keeper then held a 20 yard shot from Oladapo Afolayan before fortune helped out after a strong run from Robin Muller down the right was punctuated by a dangerous cross through the home box.

The half ended after a corner on the left won by Edwards was centred by Chalmers but headed clear.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 St Pauli 1

Dunfermline introduced Lewis McCann and Paul Allan in place of Kyle Benedictus and Craig Wighton. St Pauli fielded virtually a new team in the second half, only Eggestein remaining from the first 45. That meant the introduction their two new signings - Philipp Treu, a 22 year old right back signed from SC Freiburg and Hauke Wahl, the 29 year old centre back a recent acquisition from Holstein Kiel.

For WAHL it was perfect start, scoring within four minutes as he deflected David Nemeth’s header into the Pars net. 0-2

Lewis McCann made a promising break but had to hold the ball up for support and subsequently Edwards cross travelled through to the new keeper Soren Ahlers. St Pauli attacked with fresh vigour and Mehmet had to hold a Marcel Hartel free kick from 25 yards out.

Hartel had his 67th minute corner from the left defended and two minutes later David Otto fired a speculative shot well wide left.

In 72 minutes Joe Chalmers and Trialist were replaced by Andrew Tod and Miller Fenton. The duo combined to allow the latter a dangerous cross that was intercepted before it could reach the awaiting McCann.

Unfortunately St Pauli would snatch a third in 77 minutes. Niklas Jessen made the cross in from the right and David OTTO stooped to head home from close range. 0-3

There was a block in between as the Dunfermline keeper pulled off a magnificent double save four minutes from the end when St Pauli threatened, the last chance from Amenyido being beaten off his line.

The crossbar kept out a fourth when a specular shot was released by Amenyido. That brought the match to a wow of an end but it had really been quite an exhibition from the German guests.

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