FC St. Gallen cannot improve its starting position in the Conference League. It lost at home to Vitoria Guimarães 1:4 and thus for the third time on matchday 5.
The St. Gallen fans also created a great atmosphere in the last home game of the year. And at least at times, the more than 16,000 spectators could hope that their team would get a leg up on the highly-rated Portuguese side. After going 2-0 down, FCSG responded quickly with a goal from Kevin Csoboth (66'). Even though the club had not been playing as well as it should for weeks, its commitment did not suffer. It was only when they conceded their third goal after a counter-attack in the 84th minute that the St. Gallen team finally had to admit defeat.
The individual quality spoke for Vitoria Guimarães, currently ranked number 6 in Portugal and clear winners of the duel with FC Zurich at the start of the season. Two wonderful moves made the difference for the visitors, who were impressive offensively but vulnerable defensively from time to time. In the 33rd minute, João Mendes' knee was at the end of a quick sequence of passes - unfortunate for St. Gallen. In the 58th minute, Gustavo doubled his tally after two perfectly timed passes through the Eastern Swiss defense.
As announced by coach Enrico Maassen, St. Gallen matched the Portuguese's technique with speed and intensity. Shortly after the end of the first quarter of an hour, the best chances to score for a long time came when Chadrac Akolo and then Csoboth were denied by the excellent reaction of goalkeeper and multiple Portuguese junior international Bruno Varela. The last two goals by Alberto (84') and Samu (94') were scored as St. Gallen threw all their energy forward.
With four points still available, there is not much to suggest that FC St. Gallen will progress. What is clear is that they need a win at Heidenheim next Thursday to conclude the league phase and possibly finish among the top 24 in the Conference League.
Comments on the game
The telegram
St. Gallen - Vitoria Guimarães 1:4 (0:1)
SR Walsh (SCO). -
Goals: 33rd João Mendes 0:1. 58th Gustavo 0:2. 66th Csoboth 1:2. 84th Alberto 1:3. 94th Samu 1:4.
St. Gallen: Ati Zigi; Vandermersch, Diaby, Vallci, Okoroji; Görtler (46. Quintillà), Stefanovic (61. Ruiz), Konietzke (46. Toma); Witzig (78. Mambimbi), Csoboth; Akolo (61. Cissé).
Vitoria Guimarães: Varela; Alberto, Rivas Viondi, Villanueva, Mendes; Tiago Silva (90. Ze Carlos), Manu, João Mendes (72. Samu); Gustavo (72. , Oliveira (75. Bica), Santos (90. Arcanjo).
Comments: St. Gallen without Nuhu, Geubbels, Milosevic and Karlen (all injured). Cautions: 43rd Akolo. 45. Vallci. 50th Alberto. 57th Diaby. 61st Stevanovic. 86th Tiago Silva. 87th Santos. 92nd Mendes. 94th Ati Zigi.
The live ticker
FC St.Gallen
Vitória Guimarães
- Kevin Csoboth - 1:2 (66.)
- (33.) 0:1 - João Mendes
- (58.) 0:2 - Gustavo Silva
- (84.) 1:3 - Alberto Baio
- (90.+4.) 1:4 - Samu
-
Liveticker
-
Liveticker closed
-
90.+4.
Samu extends the lead deep into stoppage time
-
84.
Alberto Baio with the winner
-
66.
Kevin Csoboth brings the home side back into the game
-
58.
Gustavo Silva penalizes St.Gallen for a bad pass
-
45.+1.
Zigi hext - crossbar helps to prevent the goal against
-
33.
João Mendes only has to keep his knee out
-
30.
Lukas Görtler's celebration sticks in his throat
-
17.
St.Gallen fail to put the ball in the net
-
16.
Chadrac Akolo misses alone in front of the opposing goalkeeper
-
5.
Lawrence Ati-Zigi has to intervene for the first time
-
0.
FCZ captain Yanick Brecher: "St.Gallen must put Guimarães under pressure all over the pitch"
No easy opponent awaits St.Gallen. This is not only evident from the table, in which the Portuguese side occupy fifth place with ten points, but also from the FC Zurich players. The two teams met in the third qualifying round of the Conference League - with Vitória coming out on top. Bledian Krasniqi and Yanick Brecher analyze St.Gallen's opponent.
-
0.
The future belongs to this 18-year-old from St.Gallen
Corsin Konietzke has blossomed into a regular at FCSG over the last ten months. He scored his first professional goal in the last Conference League game against Topola two weeks ago. "I couldn't have imagined my first goal any better, in the Conference League and then in front of a home crowd. It's a very special moment," said the 18-year-old after the game.
-
0.
"FCSG have fate in their own hands"
blue Sport commentator Stefan Flückiger analyzes the starting position of St.Gallen ahead of the game.
-
90.+7.End of 2nd half
-
90.+5.Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Lawrence Ati-Zigi
-
90.+4.Goal for Vitória Guimarães, 1:4 through Samu
Samu
Midfielder
-
90.+1.Yellow card Vitória Guimarães
Joao Mendes
-
89.Substitution in Vitória Guimarães
Telmo Arcanjo
Midfielder
-
89.Substitution out Vitória Guimarães
Nuno Santos
Striker
-
89.Substitution in Vitória Guimarães
Ze Carlos
Defender
-
89.Substitution out Vitória Guimarães
Tiago Silva
Midfielder
-
87.Yellow card Vitória Guimarães
Nuno Santos
-
84.Goal for Vitória Guimarães, 1:3 through Alberto Baio (Kaio César)
Alberto Baio
Defender
Assist: Kaio César
Striker
-
78.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Felix Mambimbi
Striker
-
78.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Christian Witzig
Striker
-
75.Substitution in Vitória Guimarães
Jose Bica
Striker
-
75.Substitution out Vitória Guimarães
Nélson Oliveira
Striker
-
70.Substitution in Vitória Guimarães
Samu
Midfielder
-
70.Substitution out Vitória Guimarães
João Mendes
Midfielder
-
70.Substitution in Vitória Guimarães
Kaio César
Striker
-
70.Substitution out Vitória Guimarães
Gustavo Silva
Striker
-
66.Goal for FC St.Gallen, 1:2 through Kevin Csoboth (Hugo Vandermersch)
Kevin Csoboth
Striker
Assist: Hugo Vandermersch
Defender
-
61.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Víctor Ruiz
Midfielder
-
61.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Mihailo Stevanovic
Midfielder
-
61.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Moustapha Cissé
Striker
-
61.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Chadrac Akolo
Striker
-
60.Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Mihailo Stevanovic
-
58.Goal for Vitória Guimarães, 0:2 through Gustavo Silva (Nuno Santos)
Gustavo Silva
Striker
Assist: Nuno Santos
Striker
-
57.Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Abdoulaye Diaby
-
50.Yellow card Vitória Guimarães
Alberto Baio
-
46.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Jordi Quintillà
Midfielder
-
46.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Lukas Görtler
Midfielder
-
46.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Bastien Toma
Midfielder
-
46.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Corsin Konietzke
Midfielder
-
46.Kick-off 2nd half
-
45.+2.End of 1st half
-
45.Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Albert Vallci
-
44.Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Chadrac Akolo
-
33.Goal for Vitória Guimarães, 0:1 through João Mendes (Nuno Santos)
João Mendes
Midfielder
Assist: Nuno Santos
Striker
-
1.Start of the match
