After a hard fought game, we tied the game 1-1 against Sion.
What our fans – especially the Espenblock – did with the kybunpark this evening is amazing. “The biggest and most complex choreo in the history of the club” was what the 17,160 fans in the stadium read on a leaflet that was in a bag with a white or green poncho, a roll of paper and a scarf. Each viewer was allowed to take the second home with them as a gift.
This action also affected our captain Lúcás Görtler. “If I hadn’t fallen in love with this club before, I would have done it today at the latest,” he said into the microphone after the game. It is more unfortunate that the victory could not be given to the fans. Like a week ago in Valais, we draw again with FC Sion.
In the first half we were the team with more and better chances to score. But neither we nor the people from Sitten had a very big one. The score was 0-0 at half-time, the logical consequence. It was mainly the fans in the stands who provided some parts of the chorus for the highlights before the break. The game ended sharply for our attacker Felix Mambimbi, who fouled Sions Sow in the third minute and had to be substituted.
After the break we picked up the pace, still inspired by what was happening in the stands. In the 54th minute, Kevin Csoboth fought for the ball with a strong move when the Sion team was moving forward. The ball landed through Bastien Toma to Lukas Görtler, who served Chadrac Akolo in front of the goal, making it 1-0.
After 67 minutes, our coach Enrico Maassen brought fresh players into the game with three new players. But less than 30 seconds after being substituted, the ball bounced into the hands of Mihailo Stevanovic in the penalty area. Referee Kanagasingam pointed to the spot and Kabacalman equalised. As a result, both teams still had good chances to score, but the score remained 1-1 until the end. (man)
FC St.Gallen 1879 – FC Fox 1:1 (0:0)
kybunpark – 17,160 spectators – SR Anojen Kanagasingam (VAR Sandro Schärer).
Tower: 54. Akolo (Görtler) 1:0, 70. Kabacalman (Pen.) 1:1.
St.Gallen: Zigi; Vandermersch (67. Faber), Stanic, Vallci, Okoroji; Görtler (Cap., 67. Konietzke), Quintillà, Witzig (67. Stevanovic); Tom; Mambimbi (7. Csoboth), Akolo (82. Cisse).
Sion: Lindner; Sow, Schmied (Capt.), Diouf; Coast; Lavanchy, Kabacalman (80. Chipperfield), Miranchuk (84. Berdayes), Hefti; Docic (60. Sorgic), Souza (60. Chouaref).
Warnings: 23. Sow (foul), 45.+2 Witzig (swallow), 61. Lavanchy (foul), 90.+3 Tholot (complaint), 90.+5 Csoboth (complaint).
Notes: St.Gallen with Watkowiak, Cisse, Yannick, Diaby, Faber, Konietzke, Stevanovic, Probst, Csoboth (substitute bench) and without Geubbels (suspended), Nuhu, Ambrosius, Karlen, Fazliji, Milosevic (all injured), Dumrath, Ruiz (both in the squad). Sion without Fayulu, Bouchlarem (both suspended), Moulin, Bua, (both injured), Belmar, Grognuz, Aymon, Tutonda (everything not in the squad).
Interview between Time.news Editor and Football Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome, everyone! Today, we have a special guest, sports analyst and football expert, Dr. Sara Levin. We’ll be discussing an exhilarating match that ended in a 1-1 draw between our local team and FC Sion. Dr. Levin, thank you for joining us!
Dr. Sara Levin: Thanks for having me! It was quite an afternoon at the kybunpark, to say the least.
Time.news Editor: Absolutely! Let’s talk about that amazing display from the fans, particularly the “Espenblock.” They created what some are calling “the biggest and most complex choreo in the history of the club.” How important do you think fan engagement like this is for the team’s spirit?
Dr. Sara Levin: Fan engagement is crucial. It creates an exhilarating atmosphere that can significantly impact the players’ performance. Having 17,160 supporters in such unison not only energizes the players but also sends a message of unity and support. Lúcás Görtler’s reaction—saying he might have fallen in love with the club for the first time during that match—really underscores that emotional connection.
Time.news Editor: For sure! That pre-match choreography must have set the tone. Now, looking at the game itself, the first half ended in a goalless deadlock. What do you think accounted for the lack of scoring before the break?
Dr. Sara Levin: It was a tactical standoff. Both teams created opportunities, but they struggled to convert those chances into goals. The defenses were tight, and neither side had particularly clear scoring opportunities. The fans played a significant role in lifting spirits, but ultimately, it was a game of patience and strategy in that first half.
Time.news Editor: In the second half, though, the team seemed reinvigorated, didn’t they? Can you break down that goal by Chadrac Akolo which put the team ahead?
Dr. Sara Levin: Certainly! The team showed great resilience and urgency. Kevin Csoboth made a powerful play to regain possession, and that moment was pivotal. What stood out was the way the ball moved through several players—Csoboth to Toma to Görtler—before reaching Akolo. It was a beautiful display of teamwork, patience, and skill that exploited Sion’s brief defensive lapse.
Time.news Editor: That goal had to feel like a culmination of the fan support and the team’s efforts. However, the match ended in a tie after Sion equalized. How do you assess the team’s performance overall?
Dr. Sara Levin: the team displayed determination and skill, particularly in the second half. However, letting the lead slip after going ahead can be frustrating. The key will be to learn from these scenarios. Games like this are often a testament to growth; figuring out how to maintain leads can be just as important as obtaining them in the first place.
Time.news Editor: Great insights, Dr. Levin. what can we expect moving forward for this team, especially with the kind of support they’ve demonstrated?
Dr. Sara Levin: If the fanbase continues to show such fervor and the players maintain this level of performance, I expect them to have a strong season ahead. It’s all about building momentum. If they can learn from their draws and turn those into wins, they could be contenders in the league.
Time.news Editor: Thank you so much for your time, Dr. Levin! It’s always a pleasure to have you with us, breaking down the beautiful game.
Dr. Sara Levin: Thank you! Looking forward to seeing what the rest of the season holds.