In the German Bundesliga, Estonian defender Karol Mets and FC St. Pauli finally put an end to their long losing streak, but their winless run extended to ten league matches after a dramatic 1-1 draw away at 1. FC Köln.
Just four days earlier, St. Pauli secured a place in the quarter-finals of the DFB Pokal with an impressive 2-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach on the road. However, their focus now returned to league form, where they were determined to stop a run of defeats that had stretched back to mid-September.
Mets once again started in the heart of defense as the first half ended without goals. Shortly after the break, the hosts took the lead when Said El Mala found the net with a precise finish.
As the match moved into its final minutes, St. Pauli went all-in in search of an equaliser. In the 86th minute, Mets was substituted as part of an attacking change, with former Paide player Abdoulie Ceesay coming on to add firepower up front.
The decision paid off in dramatic fashion. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, another substitute striker Ricky-Jade Jones, making his Bundesliga debut, struck the equaliser to rescue a crucial point for the visitors and finally end their nine-match losing streak.
Despite the hard-earned draw, St. Pauli’s wait for a league win continues, with the club now without a victory in ten Bundesliga matches. After 13 rounds, they sit in 17th place on eight points.
For Mets, the match marked his seventh Bundesliga appearance of the season, with the experienced defender continuing to feature regularly in the heart of defense.
St. Pauli’s next league fixture comes on Saturday, when they host relegation rivals Heidenheim – a crucial showdown against the side currently in 15th place and three points ahead in the standings.
