FC St. Pauli was able to thank Jackson Irvine for the last-minute 2-2 draw at Hannover 96. The Australian is currently impressing with unexpected qualities.
Hannover/Hamburg – Two games, two goals! Jackson Irvine (29) has it FC St. Pauli with his last-minute goal on Saturday evening in the second division top game Hannover 96 (2:2) saved from defeat and thus already achieved his goal for the season.
Jackson Irvine (29) scored the late 2-2 equalizer for FC St. Pauli at Hannover 96 in the 95th minute. © Swen Pförtner/dpa
“I aim to score more goals before each season,” said the Australian just a few minutes after the much-celebrated 95th minute and joked: “I’ve already doubled my quota from last season.”
Irvine had not set a specific goal. “But of course before the start of the season I made it my goal to score more goals.”
After the departures of Guido Burgstaller (33) and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (26), not only the scoring but also the responsibility had to be redistributed. Together with Leart Paqarada (27), Irvine forms the captain duo. However, he has not yet worn the bandage. “We’re both captains, Leart wore the armband today,” the 29-year-old clarified. “There will definitely be games where I wear them.” Perhaps this will already be the case on Saturday (1 p.m.) in the cup game against SV Straelen.
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But he didn’t want to pay too much attention to that, the World Cup participant was more interested in the point won and the proper start to the season. “It was very important not to lose here,” admitted Irvine. “It was a really important result because it continues our positive start, our positive energy. We deserved the point.”
The 29-year-old has already scored his second goal of the season for the Kiezkicker. © Swen Pförtner/dpa
The Australian even saw progress compared to the previous season. They tried to force the balance somehow. “But we didn’t lose our composure, played our way into good spaces and the quality of our standard situations saved us the draw in the end,” explained the midfielder.
Teammate Marcel Hartel (26) saw it similarly. “That inspires us again and shows us that we should never give up,” said the 26-year-old. “I can’t remember a game last year where we played such a lucky punch. That’s good.”
Coach Timo Schultz (44) saw his team’s willpower in Irvine’s late equalizer. “We’re glad we got our reward.” The 44-year-old didn’t know whether the last-minute goal could have a positive effect. “I still don’t have a crystal ball.”
What a finish! Jackson Irvine saves St. Pauli a point at Hannover 96 in stoppage time
But one thing is clear: the burden of scoring goals has already spread over several shoulders at St. Pauli. The five goals were scored by four different professionals – only Jackson Irvine dances out of line with his nature.