Intriguingly, the St. Paul's Derby victor, Dzwigala, was not expected to encounter others
In a thrilling turn of events at the Volksparkstadion, Adam Dzwigala scored the first Bundesliga goal for FC St. Pauli since 2018, securing a 2:0 victory over Hamburg SV (HSV).
The goal, scored after a short corner from Danel Sinani, was unexpected, as Dzwigala admitted later. The Polish defender stuck out his foot to control the ball, sending it flying past HSV goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes.
Mathias Pereira Lage brought the ball into the penalty area before Dzwigala's sudden strike. However, the goal was not intended for Dzwigala; it was supposed to go to Eric Smith.
Despite the unplanned nature of the goal, Dzwigala described it as a quick reaction and the ball going in. Hauke Wahl, FC St. Pauli's manager, paid Dzwigala a high compliment, saying he can be thrown into any situation and will always perform.
Dzwigala's versatility was on display in this match, as he played as a striker, a role he occupied in his teenage years for Jagellonia Bialystok. However, most of his performances for FC St. Pauli have been as a central defender, a position where he feels comfortable.
The match was not a perfect one for Dzwigala, but his goal and the team's clean sheet were enough to secure the victory. Dzwigala's teammate Pereira Lage was criticised for reacting a bit late, but the defender's unexpected goal ensured that the team managed to win without conceding a goal.
The corner variation had been rehearsed but didn't go as planned in training, adding an extra layer of excitement to the goal. Another defender inadvertently seized the opportunity to score, making the goal even more memorable.
Dzwigala's permanent switch to the striker position is not on the cards, as he has no plans to abandon his role as a central defender. Nevertheless, his unexpected goal against HSV will undoubtedly go down as one of the highlights of FC St. Pauli's season.
