FCZ coach Franco Foda made seven changes to his team compared to the Champions League qualifiers’ elimination against Karabakh last Wednesday. Fresh energy should secure the first win of the season after a grueling 120 minutes. Initially, however, these changes had little effect. FC St. Gallen, who had to dispense with suspended captain Lukas Görtler, started more actively and only two minutes later Fabian Schubert made his first dangerous move. However, he couldn’t position his head properly.
At FCZ, Becir Omeragic is back from the start nearly four months after the injury. In the first half, the central defender noticed the lack of matches. He cut an unfortunate figure with both of his goals:
- 20 minutes: Daouda Guindo gets a ball in front of Nikola Boranijasevic and directs it to Emmanuel Latte Lath. This does not give Omeragic any chance of dribbling and brings the ball into the middle. There Julian von Moss passes the cross to the goal.
- 45 minutes: Von Moos leaves Karol Mets in the FCZ penalty area and shoots from short range. Omrajic turns the ball into his own goal for goalkeeper Yannick Brecher.
With a 2-0 lead behind them, the home team pulled back more in the second half and gave FCZ more space. But the first goal of the season should not work with the champions. After the 57th minute, Lawrence Atti denied Ziggy and Wilfried Gonto, and after 12 minutes the goalkeeper saved Antonio Marchesano’s shot at the post.
St. Gallen outnumbered in the lead
Since the 73rd minute, Zurich’s chances of scoring the first goal of the season have increased again. After the VAR intervened, referee Lukas Fähndrich correctly decided to send off Isaac Schmidt. Midfielder Gnonto hit the knee with an open sole. FCZ’s talent was able to continue playing without injuries.
The Green Eggs were already outnumbered in the final stage last week, after Gurtler was sent off. And just as it happened against Winterthur, they took the victory over time this time as well. However, the Eastern Swiss were also twice as lucky with aluminium: Gonnto hit the crossbar in the 75th minute, and Jonathan Okita failed to hit the post at the post in extra time.
Thanks to the three points, St. Gallen improved to second in the table, even FCZ could slip back to last place on Sunday.
This is how it goes
For FC Zurich, the Europa League qualifiers continue on Thursday. The Champions outside Linfield FC in Northern Ireland. In the tournament, FCZ meets FC Sion at home on Sunday. FC St. Gallen will meet another club in Zurich on Saturday. He’s a guest at 8:30pm on Letzigrund on GC (Live on SRF).
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