Irvine's St Pauli relegated from Bundesliga
St Pauli was relegated to the second tier as Wolfsburg kept its hopes of staying in the Bundesliga alive with a 3-1 win at Millerntor-Stadion.
Wolfsburg simply had to avoid defeat in order to send St Pauli, featuring Australia internationals Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe, down to the second tier, with anything but a loss enough to send Dieter Hecking's Wolves into the relegation play-off with the third-place team from 2. Bundesliga.
Joel Chima Fujita rattled the woodwork as St. Pauli pressed for an opener, but Wolfsburg went ahead when Konstantinos Koulierakis turned in from Christian Eriksen's corner in the 37th minute, after Vinicius Souza had struck the post.
St. Pauli levelled 12 minutes after the interval, with substitute Abdoulie Ceesay heading in from Metcalfe's delivery from a corner.
Wolfsburg, though, was back in front seven minutes later as St Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj made a real mess of trying to clear a cross, only managing to punch it into his own net.
The goal was initially disallowed, but then given after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
The technology provided Wolfsburg with another boost when Tomoya Ando's handball was spotted on a review, but Eriksen slammed his penalty against the crossbar.
However, St Pauli could not make its luck count, and Dzenan Pejcinovic drilled home to put Wolfsburg two to the good, ensuring they live to fight another day.
