St. Pauli II vs Verden 04

The match, shortened to 80 minutes by mutual agreement due to temperatures approaching 30°C, exploded into life from the opening whistle. Jack Wardius put St. Pauli II ahead in the 6th minute, but Verden's new signing Milan Berenschot equalised four minutes later and then turned the game on its head with a second goal in the 13th minute.

Captain Jonas Austermann extended Verden's lead to 3-1 in the 17th minute before Abdoul Alassani pulled one back for St. Pauli almost immediately (18'). Berenschot completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 31st minute to make it 4-2, after being fouled in the box.

Oleg Skacun converted a spot-kick of his own for St. Pauli in the 35th minute — Verden goalkeeper Rayk Rodel got a hand to it but could only deflect it onto the post, from where it rebounded off his body and trickled over the line. Ruwen Albrecht restored Verden's two-goal cushion in the 37th minute, but Mamadou Djalo struck from 16 yards in first-half stoppage time to make it 5-4 at the break.

After a first half that produced nine goals, the second period was a far more measured affair. Both teams rotated heavily, and the intensity dropped. Wardius scored his second of the afternoon early in the second half to level the scores at 5-5, and despite presentable chances at both ends, neither side could find a winner.

Milan Berenschot (Verden 04) — The summer arrival from Go Ahead Eagles' U21 side scored his first hat-trick for the club, taking his pre-season tally to five goals in three friendlies. Two from open play and one coolly dispatched penalty underlined his sharpness in front of goal.

Jack Wardius (St. Pauli II) — Scored both the opener and the crucial equaliser, proving the most dangerous attacking outlet for the Regionalliga side.

Jonas Austermann (Verden 04) — The captain led by example, scoring the third goal and playing a key role in the build-up to Berenschot's second.

The 5-5 scoreline tells an honest story: nine goals before half-time suggests defensive work remains a priority for both sides. Verden coach Oliver Warnke acknowledged that four of the five goals his side conceded came from individual errors, telling the Weser-Kurier: "The five goals conceded annoy everyone in the squad. Our defensive unit still has its problems." On the positive side, Warnke noted: "The lads implemented a lot of what we had set out to do" in attack.

St. Pauli II, playing a tier above Verden in the Regionalliga Nord, showed their quality in spells but were equally culpable defensively, falling 2-0 down twice in the first half alone.

For FC Verden 04, this was their third pre-season friendly as they prepare for the 2026/27 Oberliga Niedersachsen campaign. A double matchday awaits on Tuesday (14 July) against TSV Dörverden and Bornreihe, followed by the undoubted highlight of their summer schedule: a home test against Bundesliga side Werder Bremen on Saturday, 18 July.

St. Pauli II continue their pre-season programme as they build towards the new Regionalliga Nord season, with the attacking output — five goals away from home — a clear positive despite the defensive concerns.

A wildly entertaining pre-season friendly that offered both coaches plenty to work with. Berenschot looks a genuine find for Verden, but the defensive fragility on both sides will need addressing before competitive football resumes. The 5-5 draw was a fair reflection of a match where attack consistently trumped defence.