After a 5-0 mauling last time out at SV Darmstadt 98, Norbert Düwel made a tactical change to his side deploying the more defensive 4-2-3-1 formation; prompted after die Eiserne had shipped eight goals in their last three games. There were also wholesale changes to the side that were taken part in Southern Hesse.
The standout being goalkeeper Mohamed Amsif who received his marching orders at the Stadion am Böllenfalltor - the Moroccan was replaced by Daniel Haas. The Alten Försterei has proved to be a happy hunting ground for the capital club this term, having earned two wins and a draw since the turn of the year.
Die Freibeuter have endured an upturn in form in recent weeks having picked up five points since Matchday 22, conceding only one goal in the process. Knowing a win on the evening could take them out of the automatic relegation places, albeit temporarily, Ewald Lienen fielded an attacking side that included a front four of Marc Rzatkowski, Lennart Thy, Sebastian Maier and Christopher Nöthe. The quartet having contributed eleven goals between them this campaign.
Die Freibeuter were heading into the match at the Alten Försterei in good confidence after earning hard-fought 2-0 victory at Eintracht Braunschweig the last time the side from Hamburg were away from the Millerntor Stadion. St. Pauli had also ran out 3-0 victors the last time the two sides met back in October; Rzatkowski, Nöthe and John Verhoek all notching.
Contrary to what the form book would suggest it was the hosts that would start the brighter and would nearly take the lead only moments in. A defensive mix-up between die Freibeuter captain Sören Gonther and 'keeper Robin Himmelmann led to Steven Skrzybski finding himself in acres of space and able to let fly. However, the effort was somewhat scuffed and agonizingly for the Alten Försterei faithful skidded past the post.
However die Freibeuter would grow into the game and begin to hold the majority of possession; looking dangerous down the left flank, where Lennart Thy and Marcel Halstenberg were linking up well. The visitors would go close after 25th minutes, defensive midfielder Julian Koch weaving between Union challenges before unleashing an effort that missed the post by a whisper. Second inspection showing that Toni Leistner had the last touch, diverting the path of the ball.
But die Eiserne were always a threat on the counter attack and without a Marc Rzatkowski clearance off the line they would've taken the lead from a Daniel Kreilach header.
Moments before the break it looked as if die Eiserne would take the lead, but Marcel Halstenberg recovered well to tackle Christopher Quiring after the Union man had burst clear.
The second half didn't start in the same frantic pace that the first had been played and it'd be a long wait until the 67th minute when Sebastian Maier struck the side netting with an effort from a freekick - the first real effort of the second half, although it didn't really trouble Daniel Haas.
The visitors were on top and only minutes after the Maier chance they nearly took the lead. Jan-Philipp Kalla laying off for Dennis Daube who's effort flashed past Haas' upright.
However, when the game looked to be heading for a goal-less stalemate Union were handed all three points after a calamitous mistake by Robin Himmelmann. Gonther played the ball back to the 'keeper, who sliced his attempted clearance no more than five yards away. Sebastian Polter followed up with the goal at his mercy and made no mistake, sending the Alten Försterei into raptures.
Despite a last minute free-kick the visitors were unable to level the scoreline, meaning die Eiserne picked up their first win four. The result sees Union rise up into 10th ahead of the weekends action; next up for Norbert Düwel's side is a trip to SV Sandhausen. However for St. Pauli the defeat leaves them stranded in 17th place, giving Erzgebirge Aue the chance to leap-frog them - they face Fortuna Düsseldorf next.