Charles Takyi gave the visitors the lead in the 57th minute, but Stefan Kiessling deservedly levelled nine minutes later.

Lars Bender earned Leverkusen the win with 13 minutes to go to move them within five points of league leaders Borussia Dortmund with five games of the season remaining.

St Pauli took the lead against the run of play when Florian Bruns' cross was met by Takyi at the near post and he managed to divert the ball beyond the reach of Fabian Giefer and into the far corner.

The goal stung Leverkusen and they responded immediately, Kiessling levelling five minutes later by rounding off an excellent team move involving Gonzalo Castro and Eren Derdiyok.

Bender won it in the 77th minute with his shot trickling under Benedikt Pliquett and over the line.

Marco Reus scored two goals and set up a third as bottom club Borussia Monchengladbach gave their Bundesliga survival push an emphatic shot in the arm with a 5-1 thrashing of Cologne.

Juan Arango gave Gladbach the lead after 29 minutes before Reus made it 3-0 with strikes in the 34th and 39th minutes.

Cologne pulled a goal back after 50 minutes through Milivoje Novakovic but Filip Daems converted a penalty to re-establish the three-goal lead and Havard Nordtveit finished the scoring after 67 minutes.

Gladbach had just one win in their last five games and although they remain rooted to the foot of the table, victory moves them within four points of safety.

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