Late Penalty Rescue Sees FC Köln Draw 1-1 with St. Pauli in Key Relegation Clash

In a vital Bundesliga relegation battle on April 17, 2026, FC St. Pauli and 1. FC Köln played out a tense 1-1 draw at the Millerntor-Stadion. St. Pauli's defender Karol Mets broke his Bundesliga goal drought by scoring the opener in the 69th minute, delighting the home fans. However, the thrill was short-lived as Mets was later involved in conceding a penalty after fouling Köln's Jakub Kaminski. This allowed Luca Waldschmidt to calmly convert from the spot in the 86th minute, securing a late equalizer for Köln.

The match, delayed briefly by fan pyrotechnics, saw both sides miss chances, including a shot from Köln's Said El Mala that hit the crossbar and a notable save by Köln's goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe on St. Pauli's Andreas Hountondji. Despite efforts, neither team could claim the full three points, leaving St. Pauli five points behind Köln in the relegation struggle with just four games left in the Bundesliga season.

St. Pauli's defensive leader Hauke Wahl expressed disappointment over missed opportunities, saying, "We must blame ourselves for not scoring the second and third goals. But that’s football - and we are disappointed." The draw leaves the Kiez-Club vulnerable, especially with competitors like Werder Bremen poised to capitalize in the fight for survival.

This result maintains Köln's five-point cushion above the relegation zone, preserving their momentum in a season where every point counts heavily toward league survival.