And suddenly the worm is in at home: While the St. Gallen Kybunpark was an impregnable fortress in the first half of the season (9 games – 9 wins), it now suffered its second home defeat against Servette within 4 days (after the 1:4 against Lugano). . The guests from Geneva, who extended their unbeaten streak to 14 games, were completely different.
It wasn’t the case that Servette clearly dominated the home team. If anything, the St. Gallen team lacked the necessary cool-bloodedness in front of the opponent’s goal and were anything but happy in front of their own goal. Or as Albert Vallci put it during the break: “We scored both goals ourselves.”
Servette exploits St. Gallen’s shortcomings
Servette took a 1-0 lead, even though the Calvinstadt team hadn’t managed a single shot on goal. Jozo Stanic unfortunately headed a cross from Servette’s Keigo Tsunemoto into his own goal (19′).
7 minutes later, Mihailo Stevanovic was pressured by two Geneva players on the verge of legality and lost the ball. Servette then countered mercilessly against the advanced St. Gallen team. Dereck Kutesa launched Alexis Antunes, who scored from the edge of the penalty area – 2-0.
The home team didn’t let the deficit deter them and kept pushing. But Charles Akolo (28th), Nikolaj Möller (40th), Fabian Schubert shortly after his substitution (47th) and Vallci with a header (61st) missed their best opportunities, as did Bastien Toma in the 6th minute The conclusion to a possible early lead was saved by Joël Mall in the Geneva goal.
St. Gallen’s prominent absentees
It is quite possible that the game would have taken a different course. But the St. Gallen team couldn’t cover up their absences. Captain and driver Lukas Görtler (red card) was missing, as was attacker Willem Geubbels (injured), the second-best goalscorer for Eastern Switzerland behind Akolo.
Small consolation for the FCSG: the biggest chance of the game was missed by the former St. Gallen’s Jérémy Guillemenot, who should have given Servette a 3-0 lead in the 53rd minute. But that should hardly bother the Geneva offensive player anymore, as Servette overtook his direct competitor in the table thanks to the victory and is now the first pursuer of leader YB.
This is how it continues
The two teams will be back in action next Sunday, February 4th. St. Gallen visits FC Luzern, Servette welcomes Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy. Both games kick off at 4:30 p.m.