FC St. Pauli vs HNK Gorica — Match Details | Betmana

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HNK Gorica

FC St. Pauli beat HNK Gorica 2-1 in Austria. Oppie struck first, Erceg equalised, and substitute Jones scored the 77th-minute winner.

Match Videos

Im Vlog: FCSP gewinnt gegen Gorica – Branimir Hrgota feiert Debüt

LIVE: HNK Velika Gorica - FC St. Pauli (Testspiel)

Match Analysis

AI Summary

How it unfolded

The match, played at the Maxima Sportpark complex near Salzburg, kicked off under clear skies after earlier wind warnings had passed. St. Pauli started the sharper side and took a deserved lead in the 20th minute. Oppie, starting in attack, finished calmly to put the 2. Bundesliga side ahead.

Gorica responded within eight minutes. Erceg, the experienced Croatian forward, found the net in the 28th minute to level the score at 1-1, a finish that gave St. Pauli's defence something to think about after a period of Gorica pressure.

The first half ended with both sides level, St. Pauli having created the better openings. The pattern of the game changed completely at the hour mark when St. Pauli made nine substitutions in a single stoppage, effectively replacing the entire outfield. Among the arrivals was Branimir Hrgota, the former Sweden international and Greuther Furth striker, making his debut in a St. Pauli shirt.

With the fresh legs came renewed impetus. Jones, who had been introduced at half-time when he replaced Michael Kaars, scored the decisive goal in the 77th minute — a finish that separated the teams and gave the German side their second win of pre-season.

The turning point

The 61st-minute mass substitution was by design rather than necessity, but it reshaped the game. St. Pauli's starting XI had controlled the first hour without pulling clear; the arrival of Hrgota, Jones, Nemeth and others gave the attack a different dynamic. Jones scored the winner 16 minutes after the nine-man swap, turning a comfortable but level contest into a victory.

Key performers

Ricky-Jade Jones (St. Pauli) — Introduced at half-time, scored the 77th-minute winner. The English striker's movement caused Gorica problems after the break.

Louis Oppie (St. Pauli) — Opened the scoring with a composed 20th-minute finish and was a lively presence before being substituted in the 61st minute.

Ante Erceg (Gorica) — The Croatian forward scored the equaliser with a well-taken finish in the 28th minute, his second goal of pre-season.

Player of the match: Ricky-Jade Jones.

By the numbers — interpreted

St. Pauli's pre-season data (since early July) shows they have scored 13 goals across four friendlies — 6 against Altona 93, 4 against Babelsberg, 3 against Kickers Emden (a 3-1 defeat) and now 2 against Gorica — suggesting the attack is functioning well even with heavy rotation. The 61st-minute mass change (nine substitutions in one go) makes traditional match stat comparisons unreliable, but the decisive phase after the reshuffle speaks to squad depth. Gorica, who had beaten Epitsentr Dunayivtsi 1-0 three days earlier and lost 1-0 to Goztepe, were competitive in the first half but faded as St. Pauli's changes took effect.

What it means

For St. Pauli, this was their fourth pre-season friendly of the summer. The 2-1 result against a Croatian top-flight side represents their most competitive test so far. They continue their Austrian training camp before the 2026-27 Bundesliga 2 campaign begins. Their next fixture in pre-season has not yet been confirmed.

For HNK Gorica, this was their fifth friendly of pre-season. The Croatian Prva HNL side, who finished mid-table last season, have shown mixed form — wins over Epitsentr, Breice and Zorya Luhansk either side of losses to Goztepe and now St. Pauli. Their league campaign opens later in the summer.

Verdict

A useful workout for both sides. St. Pauli's first-half control and second-half depth told the story — a 2-1 win that reflected the German side's greater sharpness in the final third. Hrgota's debut 15-minute cameo offered a glimpse of his quality, but Jones's winner was the moment that separated the teams.