FC St. Gallen can dream of an exploit at home against Fiorentina. However, their courage went unrewarded and they suffered their second defeat in their second Conference League game, losing 4-2.
The 2:6 defeat at Cercle Brugge at the start of the league phase did not break St. Gallen's offensive spirit. However, the Super League representative's ambitious plan ultimately failed to work against Fiorentina, even if it was promising at times. St. Gallen led 1:0 at the break and came back to 2:2.
With a lot of intensity and high pressing, FCSG created scoring chances, especially in the first half. Felix Mambimbi capitalized on one of them in the 23rd minute after Jordi Quintillà had won a ball in midfield. As coach Enrico Maassen had hoped beforehand, the sold-out stadium went with the flow. The coup seemed within reach.
But the start to the second half was a failure. Fiorentina, who were ineffective for a long time in an unfamiliar formation with numerous players who are otherwise rarely used, found their feet better and better on the St. Gallen pitch. Lucas Martinez Quarta (50') and Jonathan Ikoné (55') quickly provided the reward for the Italians' improvement after the break with their goals.
Deficits in the FCSG defense
And even though Lukas Görtler made it 2:2 with a remarkable header in the 62nd minute, the momentum had changed sides. The focus was no longer on St. Gallen's offense, but on their defensive deficiencies. The defense didn't look good when they conceded the first two goals. And St. Gallen's defense also allowed itself to be easily undermined when Ikoné, who played four international matches for France in 2019, scored twice to make it 2:3. The 4:2 was then scored in stoppage time by substitute German Robin Gosens.
St. Gallen offered their fans a spectacle. However, it would do well to come up with some ideas for the next few games to keep the damage at the back to a minimum. Ten goals conceded in two games is a lot. Maassen's team continue their Conference League campaign on November 7 away against Larne from Northern Ireland, who, like St. Gallen, have 0 points and a goal difference of -6 after their first two games.
Comments on the game
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St. Gallen - Fiorentina 2:4
SR Frid (ISR). - Goals: 23rd Mambimbi 1:0. 50th Martinez Quarta 1:1. 55th Ikoné 1:2. 62nd Görtler 2:2. 69th Ikoné 2:3. 93rd Gosens 2:4.
St. Gallen: Ati Zigi; Vandermersch, Ambrosius (26. Vallci), Stanic, Yannick; Quintillà; Görtler (83. Stevanovic), Toma, Csoboth (63. Witzig); Geubbels (83. Cissé), Mambimbi (63. Akolo).
Fiorentina: Terracciano; Kayode, Moreno (46. Comuzzo), Martinez Quarta, Biraghi (83. Gosens); Richardson, Adli (63. Cataldi), Bove (63. Beltran); Ikoné, Kouamé, Sottil (85. Parisi).
Remarks: St. Gallen without Karlen, Fazliji and Milosevic (all injured). Fiorentina without Gudmundsson and Kean (both injured). Cautions: 45. Stanic. 45th Mambimbi. 45th Kouamé. 62nd Sottil. 71 Cataldi. 86 Witzig.
Video ticker
FC St.Gallen
Fiorentina
- Felix Mambimbi - 1:0 (23.)
- Lukas Görtler - 2:2 (62.)
- (50.) 1:1 - Lucas Martínez Quarta
- (54.) 1:2 - Jonathan Ikoné
- (69.) 2:3 - Jonathan Ikoné
- (90.+3.) 2:4 - Robin Gosens
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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90.
Gosens with the decision
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69.
Icon with the 3:2 for the visitors
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62.
Görtler with the equalizer
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54.
Icon with the 2:1 for Fiorentina
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50.
Fiorentina equalize
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47.
Zigi makes a miraculous save
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40.
Zigi saves for St.Gallen
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23.
Mambimbi gives St.Gallen the lead
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11.
Fiorentina fans cause an interruption with pyros
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0.
FCSG president Hüppi: "We still have to get used to the UEFA protocol"
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0.
Kuzmanovic: "In Florence, you live for AC Fiorentina"
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0.
Maassen: "It's a special evening for us"
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0.
Görtler ahead of Fiorentina clash: "Looking forward to Kybunpark"
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90.+11.End of 2nd half
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90.+3.Goal for Fiorentina, 2:4 through Robin Gosens
Robin Gosens
Defender
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86.Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Christian Witzig
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85.Substitution in Fiorentina
Fabiano Parisi
Defender
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85.Substitution out Fiorentina
Riccardo Sottil
Striker
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84.Substitution in Fiorentina
Robin Gosens
Defender
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84.Substitution out Fiorentina
Cristiano Biraghi
Defender
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83.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Mihailo Stevanovic
Midfielder
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83.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Lukas Görtler
Midfielder
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83.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Moustapha Cissé
Striker
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83.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Willem Geubbels
Striker
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71.Yellow card Fiorentina
Danilo Cataldi
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69.Goal for Fiorentina, 2:3 through Jonathan Ikoné (Christian Kouamé)
Jonathan Ikoné
Striker
Assist: Christian Kouamé
Striker
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64.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Chadrac Akolo
Striker
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64.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Felix Mambimbi
Striker
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64.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Christian Witzig
Midfielder
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64.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Kevin Csoboth
Midfielder
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63.Substitution in Fiorentina
Lucas Beltrán
Striker
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63.Substitution out Fiorentina
Edoardo Bove
Midfielder
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63.Substitution in Fiorentina
Danilo Cataldi
Midfielder
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63.Substitution out Fiorentina
Yacine Adli
Midfielder
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62.Goal for FC St.Gallen, 2:2 through Lukas Görtler (Hugo Vandermersch)
Lukas Görtler
Midfielder
Assist: Hugo Vandermersch
Defender
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61.Yellow card Fiorentina
Riccardo Sottil
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54.Goal for Fiorentina, 1:2 through Jonathan Ikoné (Edoardo Bove)
Jonathan Ikoné
Striker
Assist: Edoardo Bove
Midfielder
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50.Goal for Fiorentina, 1:1 through Lucas Martínez Quarta (Cristiano Biraghi)
Lucas Martínez Quarta
Defender
Assist: Cristiano Biraghi
Defender
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46.Substitution in Fiorentina
Pietro Comuzzo
Defender
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46.Substitution out Fiorentina
Matías Moreno
Defender
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+7.End of 1st half
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45.+7.Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Felix Mambimbi
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45.+7.Yellow card Fiorentina
Christian Kouamé
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45.+4.Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Jozo Stanic
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26.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Albert Vallci
Defender
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26.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Stephan Ambrosius
Defender
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23.Goal for FC St.Gallen, 1:0 through Felix Mambimbi (Jordi Quintillà)
Felix Mambimbi
Striker
Assist: Jordi Quintillà
Midfielder
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1.Start of the match
