2. Bundesliga: Voll saves St. Pauli point: 'Best goalkeeper in the league'

FC St. Pauli's new number one goalkeeper, Ben Voll, made an immediate impact in his first competitive match, securing a crucial point for his team in their opening game of the 2. Bundesliga season against SpVgg Greuther Fürth. The match concluded in a 1:1 draw, with Voll's exceptional saves preventing a defeat.

His teammates lauded Voll's performance, with striker Martijn Kaars declaring him "the best goalkeeper in the league." Kaars highlighted Voll's ability to save "four hundred percent chances," emphasizing the critical nature of his interventions. Swedish international Eric Smith echoed this praise, stating, "He is, I think, one of the best goalkeepers I have ever played with. And that's why I'm just happy for him."

Voll, who is succeeding long-serving starter Nikola Vasilj, was beaten only once when Felix Klaus scored in the 52nd minute, equalizing Marcus Mathisen's 46th-minute opener for St. Pauli. However, Voll made multiple crucial saves throughout the game, including three in the first half against Fürth's captain and a vital stop in stoppage time against Dennis Srbeny to preserve the draw.

Coach Marcel Rapp, making his debut on the St. Pauli bench, expressed satisfaction with the team's overall performance, despite the failure to secure a victory. He noted that "small things" were missing. Rapp acknowledged that the game could have gone either way, pointing to instances where his players were caught offside and conceded too many counter-attack opportunities. He also mentioned a controversial moment in the penalty area that was not called as a penalty for the visitors.