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Oladapo Afolayan and Andreas Albers scored the goals, but it was Socceroos star Irvine that created them, the first coming very much against the run of play.

Irvine's smart turn and cross found Afolayan, whose strike went straight into the ground, bouncing awkwardly into the back of the net on 20 minutes.

Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj kept his side ahead just minutes later when he got down well to keep out a firm shot from Anton Stach as he charged into the box to meet a free-kick on the full.

Pauli almost got its second when Morgan Guilavogui hit the post not long into the second period, but it eventially did arrive in stoppage-time when Irvine broke on the counter-attack and played a perfect pass for substitute Andreas Albers to run on to and slot home to finish the game off and claim a vital three points.

The win was only the second for St Pauli since being promoted to the top flight this season. It is now in 15th on the table, equal on points but crucially just above Hoffenheim, which occupies in the relegation play-off spot, on goal difference.

But Irvine and his team-mates face a huge test next weekend when they host free-scoring league leader Bayern Munich, and will need all they've got and more if they're to keep the momentum going.