Bayer Leverkusen leaned on their bench strength in Hamburg, with substitute Ernest Poku making the difference in a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over St. Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon.
Introduced in the 56th minute, the Dutch-Ghanaian winger wasted no time stamping his authority. Barely two minutes after entering the fray, he darted onto a perfectly weighted ball from Alejandro Grimaldo and rifled a precise finish into the far corner. The strike not only restored Leverkusen’s advantage but also silenced a vibrant Millerntor crowd that had been buzzing after St. Pauli’s earlier equaliser.
Leverkusen had started on the front foot, taking the lead midway through the first half when defender Edmond Tapsoba rose highest to nod home a set piece. But the hosts responded just before the interval, with Hauke Wahl sneaking in at the back post to level the contest and send the teams into the break even.
Today’s scorers! 😍 pic.twitter.com/eIKUOIDm8S
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The second period saw Pauli attempt to ride the wave of their first-half rally, pressing aggressively and forcing Leverkusen to stay organised at the back. However, the visitors absorbed the pressure and waited patiently for an opening, which Poku duly provided moments after his introduction.
His burst of pace and clinical finishing tilted the game firmly in Leverkusen’s favour. The late stages became a test of discipline for Xabi Alonso’s men, who shut down Pauli’s attempts at a comeback and walked away with three valuable points.
The result not only keeps Leverkusen firmly in the early title conversation but also sets them up with confidence for Tuesday’s Champions League meeting against PSV Eindhoven.
