Sebastian Polter’s header at the death secured three points for Union Berlin in a dramatic and captivating clash with St Pauli at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. The striker bagged his sixth of the season in the second minute of stoppage time following a rather uneventful 90 minutes.

As expected, the atmosphere in Köpenick was a particular high note – the Alte Försterei was sold out completely at 22,012 for one of the most in-demand clashes of the season. The start was rather equal with Simon Hedlund threatening in behind for Union, while Mats Moller Daehli was industrious on the same flank for St Pauli.

Control of the play ebbed and flowed with Keller’s side starting well. Christopher Buchtmann, key to St Pauli’s offensive play, found more space in the middle towards the end of the first period and it correlated with an increase in chances for the club from Hamburg.

Just before the half time break, referee Bastian Dankert wasn’t fooled by an embarrassing attempt from Sami Allagui to win a penalty kick. The Tunisian striker was booked for simulation and wasn’t given a particularly positive reception for the remainder of the afternoon.

Allagui, however, was presented with the best chance of the entire game. Just past the hour mark, the former Mainz and Hertha striker found himself one-vs-one with Jakob Busk, but the Danish keeper did brilliantly to keep St Pauli at bay. Allagui then missed a good headed chance from Zander’s cross.

And so, the home side would have the last laugh. In the second minute of stoppage time, Trimmel’s delivery was powered into the net by Polter from close range.

"Of course, such a last-minute victory feels better than defeat. We have already lost two or three games in the last few minutes, so today we were lucky, it was on our side. We did well at the final set piece before the goal and Polter did a good job. In the first half we have to score a goal because we had the game well under control, but little happened. We played against a very strong opponent today, but the team believed in themselves and took a big risk because we wanted to win the game,” Keller said.

With 2.Bundesliga action postponed across the international break, Union Berlin’s next match will be against Danish side AC Horsens, who are guests to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Thursday November 9 at 18:00. Union head to Heidenheim on November 18 for the next league encounter of the season.