- FC St. Gallen 2-0 at FC Zurich in the 18th round of the Super League.
- Felix Mambimbi scored in the 33rd minute, Chadrac Akolo shortly before the end.
- In Sunday’s other games, YB beat Servette 2-1 at home, Lausanne won in Lugano.
Chadrac Akolo had barely entered the field when a failed shot from FCZ keeper Yanick Brecher landed at the striker’s feet through Victor Ruiz. After sprinting over half the field, the 29-year-old decided to finish despite running several stops. It was the right decision, Akolo confidently scored 25 seconds after coming on to make it 2-0 (88th), giving St. Gallen in the final Super League game of the year.
It wasn’t a stolen success, but certainly a bit of luck for the East Swiss. In the second half, FC Zurich got into the game better and better, and the equalizer was in the air. But the Zurich team failed again and again because of Lawrence Ati Zigi. The goalkeeper produced his best flying performance in the 51st minute when he headed home Mirlind Kryeziu.
Mambimbi stays cool
The fact that the FCZ were forced to respond in a tough game was due to a scene in the 33rd minute. After a tee shot from Zigi, both FCZ central defenders stepped forward at the wrong time. FCSG striker Felix Mambimbi was lurking in the goal, he didn’t look bad, and he turned a nice pass from Nati player Christian Witzig in front of Brecher to make it 1-0.
Favorite opponent from Zurich
This is how FC St. Gallen notched their first win since November 10th. Back then too, the East Swiss won in Letzigrund, it was the Wrens who were against them at that time. In general, the Zurich clubs seem to be the FCSG’s favorite opponents – St. Gallen has won four of the last 15 Super League matches. Two against GC, two against FCZ.
For FC Zurich the year ends with another victory. In the Super League, FCZ are waiting for a win for 6 games and are only one point ahead of Sion in 6th place. St. Gallen are already two points behind and may still have legitimate hopes of joining the “Championship Group”.
This is how it continues
St. Gallen has one last competitive game in 2024: Thursday at 9:00 pm the “Espen” will play in Heidenheim in the Conference League (live on SRF). The first Super League round of the new year is coming up in five weeks. FC Zurich welcome Yverdon to Letzigrund on Sunday, January 19. The day before, St. Gallen hosted Servette in Geneva.