Ilic cancels Pereira Lage's screamer as Union Berlin and St. Pauli share spoils | OneFootball

Union Berlin fans created an electric atmosphere at the start of the game, and their players nearly rewarded them with the opening goal. After helping Bosnia & Herzegovina to return to the World Cup with two penalty shootout victories, Nikola Vasilj had to stay alert to make a super save from Danilho Doekhi’s powerful hit.

The hosts failed to build on their strong start, however. Instead, St. Pauli started to grow into the game with Danel Sinani trying to influence the game in the final third. The Luxembourg international smartly played Karol Mets after a short corner-kick routine, but the Estonian center-back was unable to test Frederik Rønnow.

Union Berlin’s goalkeeper had no chance when Mathias Pereira Lage smashed one from outside the box a few minutes later, though. The versatile attacker squandered several easy chances before scoring his first Bundesliga goal in St. Pauli’s last win over Hoffenheim.

Vasilj’s multiple saves before the break keep the possibility open for Pereira Lage to be a match-winner once again. After a routine save from Andrej Ilić’s header, he pulled a double save to deny the Serbian striker and Derrick Köhn. The wingback had the final chance of the half from a direct free-kick.

The hosts were dangerous once again at the start of the second-half, and they found the back of the net from yet another set-piece. Ilic finally scored at Alten Försterei for the first time this season with a well-placed header from Köhn's corner-kick.

The Hamburg-born player has now registered assists in back-to-back games as he set up Ghana’s solitary strike against Germany in Stuttgart during the international break. Vasilj had to make another double save to avoid further damage after his own error created the opening for András Schäfer, who returned to the side following his early red card in the last home game against Werder Bremen.

Union Berlin only managed to create half-chances for the rest of the match as they had to settle for a point. St. Pauli will be without their captain next weekend as Jackson Irvine was cautioned twice late in the game. The visitors missed the chance to climb over Köln before the Traditionsverein face Eintracht Frankfurt away from home.

St. Pauli will now have back-to-back home games against champions-elect FC Bayern and direct rivals Köln. On the contrary, Union Berlin’s next game is against bottom-placed Heidenheim.