Ernest Poku starred as Bayer Leverkusen produced a ruthless display to defeat St. Pauli 4-0 at the BayArena, sending a clear message in their pursuit of a top-four Bundesliga finish.
The Ghanaian winger’s influence was immediate, helping Die Werkself establish a two-goal lead within the opening 15 minutes and ultimately sealing the emphatic victory with a stunning strike late in the game.
Leverkusen arrived in excellent form, having secured seven points from their previous nine, and they wasted no time imposing themselves.
Poku drove into the box and delivered a teasing cross, which saw St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj inadvertently divert a Jarell Quansah header into his own net.
Barely a minute later, Patrik Schick’s initial effort was saved, but Lucas Vazquez capitalised on the rebound to set up Schick for a clinical header, doubling the home side’s advantage.
St. Pauli struggled to find rhythm, failing to register a single shot on target in the first half. The visitors’ defensive woes continued after the interval, with Edmond Tapsoba heading Aleix Garcia’s corner beyond Vasilj for Leverkusen’s third goal less than seven minutes into the second half.
With the game effectively won, Hjulmand rotated key players ahead of their UEFA Champions League play-off clash against Olympiacos.
Poku capped off the performance in the 78th minute with a thunderous strike from outside the box, demonstrating his composure and finishing ability. The victory underlined Leverkusen’s growing momentum and boosted their hopes of a top-four finish despite a turbulent start to the season.
For St. Pauli, the defeat marked a worrying continuation of poor form, leaving them 17th in the table, just two points above the relegation playoff spot, and highlighting the challenge that lies ahead if they are to escape the bottom three.
This result keeps Leverkusen firmly in contention for Champions League football next season, while Poku’s star continues to rise in the Bundesliga spotlight.
