DFB-Pokal: FC St. Pauli eliminated in the first round by Rot-Weiss Essen

FC St. Pauli's search for their first competitive win of the season continues after their elimination in the first round of the DFB-Pokal by Rot-Weiss Essen. The team, managed by Marcel Rapp, has only managed draws in the 2. Liga so far, with a 1-1 result against SpVgg Greuther Fürth and a 2-2 draw at Holstein Kiel.

Rot-Weiss Essen, the 1953 cup winners, progressed to the second round for the first time since 2000. Marek Janssen opened the scoring for Essen in the 36th minute, and Semir Telalovic doubled their lead shortly after halftime in the 53rd minute. St. Pauli had better chances in the first half, but Martijn Kaars failed to convert on two occasions.

Despite St. Pauli's early opportunities, Essen took control after scoring. The visitors appeared visibly shaken by the second goal, struggling to create offensive plays while Essen managed the game effectively. This marks another early exit for St. Pauli in the cup competition.

In other DFB-Pokal matches, SC Freiburg advanced with a convincing 5-1 victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf. Freiburg, a semi-finalist last season, scored through Lucas Höler, Igor Matanović, Lukas Kübler, and Jordy Makengo. Fortuna Düsseldorf, recently relegated to the 3. Liga, also suffered their third loss of the current season. Bundesliga newcomers SC Paderborn also started their cup campaign with a win, defeating 1. FC Phönix Lübeck 4-2, though they showed defensive vulnerabilities that need addressing before their league opener.