St Gallen – FCZ 1:2. Zurich wins its first match as a champion.
Zurich wins its first game as a champion. André Breitenreiter’s team won 2-1 in St. Gallen and inflicted the first home defeat on the eastern Swiss side since early December.
The two teams proved that the numbers don’t lie: With St. Gallen and FC Zurich, the two best teams of the second half of the season faced each other. They delivered an intense, eventful match. At least as far as the FCZ is concerned, the obvious will to win was a bit surprising, among other things, he had only won his championship title just under a week ago.
Zurich earned the win with a little more determination in the generic penalty area. A key role was played by a player who had only played a little time in recent months: central defender Karol Mets scored in the 10th minute with a powerful header to make it 1-0 and had another great chance in the middle of the second half. However, the decisive goal to make it 2-1 came from St. Gallen’s central defender Matej Maglica, from whose thigh a ball landed unluckily in his own goal in the 43rd minute.
For St. Gallen, the second Zurich goal was annoying in terms of origin – Zigi shot Maglica – and the timing. A good five minutes earlier, Jordi Quintilla had equalized with an intelligent free kick. The ball flew from an acute angle through the penalty area into the far, lower corner of the goal. Other dangerous St. Gallen actions were rare despite the great effort. The Zurich team had the better chances of scoring, who failed several times due to the outstanding East Swiss goalie Lawrence Ati Zigi.
Despite the defeat, St. Gallen remains in contention for third place. But he has to win at the Young Boys on Tuesday. The pressure will be even greater next weekend – in the cup final against Lugano.
Telegram and table:
St. Gallen – Zurich 1: 2 (1: 2)
18,861 spectators. – SR Ensign. – Goals: 10th Mets (Coric) 0:1. 37. Quintilla 1:1. 43. Maglica (own goal) 1:2.
St Gallen: Zigi; Cabral, Stergiou, Maglica, Schmidt; quintilla; Fazliji (87th Babic), Ruiz (62nd by Moss); Lungoyi (62nd Toma), Duah (62nd Besio), Guillemenot (75th Jankewitz).
Zurich: crusher; Kamberi, Mets, Aliti (63rd Kryeziu); Boranijasevic (46th Wallner), Seiler, Krasniqi (58th Hornschuh), Guerrero; Coric (81st Gogia); Tosin (46th Gnonto) , Ceesay.
Notes: St. Gallen without Jacovic (suspended), Stillhart, Schubert, Munst, Sutter, Witzig (all injured) and Görtler (ill). Zürich without Doumbia (suspended), Omeragic, Kramer (both injured) and Dzemaili (not in the squad). 70. Zigi deflects a shot from the Mets to the crossbar. Bookings: 35. Krasniqi (foul). 36. Aliti (foul). 64. Kryeziu (foul). 76. Schmidt (foul). 85 Stergiou (foul).
The other games of the 33rd round. Saturday: Lugano – Young Boys 3: 1 (0: 0). – Sunday: Locusts – Sion 14.15. Lausanne Sport – Basel 4.30 p.m. Lucerne – napkin 4.30 p.m.
1. Zurich 33/75 (73:39). 2. Basel 32/56 (67:39). 3. Boys 33/53 (71:47). 4. Lugano 33/50 (45:49). 5. St Gallen 33/47 (61:56). 6. Napkin 32/41 (45:57). 7. Locusts 32/36 (50:51). 8. Sessions 32/34 (39:60). 9. Lucerne 32/30 (40:59). 10. Lausanne-Sport 32/20 (34:68).
sth