FC St. Gallen reach the Swiss Cup final for the seventh time. The Super League runners-up beat Yverdon 2-0 in the semi-final.
FC St. Gallen set the tone from the very first minute and set a fast pace. The hosts from the Challenge League were not given the chance to wait and see. With the broad chest of a team that had been unbeaten for almost three months, the eastern Swiss dominated for almost an hour with an early 1-0 lead before losing their playful line and turning the game into a cup fight after all.
Only Alessandro Vogt's 2:0 in the 88th minute finally secured St. Gallen's place in their third cup final in the last six years. In just over a month's time, on Whit Sunday, they will face Stade Lausanne-Ouchy, another lower league team, in the Wankdorf. The opportunity seems ideal for FCSG to win the Cup for the second time since 1969 and end the negative streak of four finals lost in Bern since then.
Yverdon turn up the heat in the final phase
Memories of the two previous Cup duels this season with clubs from the Challenge League - against Rapperswil-Jona and Wil - which were only won on penalties, are likely to have driven the St. Gallen side to attack with vehemence from the outset. Captain Lukas Görtler rewarded their positive attitude after just over five minutes with a header from Aliou Baldé that was initially held.
The only criticism coach Enrico Maassen could level at his team at the break was their lack of efficiency. It should have been 2:0 or 3:0 after just over a quarter of an hour. Alessandro Vogt missed the target from the best position (11') and Hugo Vandermersch only hit the crossbar with a header (17'). FCSG continued to combine well from time to time, but without scoring a second goal.
Unexpectedly, Yverdon, who were completely harmless for a long time, stayed in the game and improved after the break to such an extent that St. Gallen were put under pressure at times. Goalkeeper Lukas Watkowiak, who replaced regular keeper Lawrence Ati Zigi as usual in the Cup, was beaten in the 59th minute. However, Fabio Saiz's shot rebounded off the crossbar. From then on, however, the fighting spirit of coach Martin Andermatt's team was awakened. With a great deal of commitment, the Yverdonnois demanded a lot from the favorites.
The live ticker
Yverdon Sport FC
FC St.Gallen
- (7.) 0:1 - Lukas Görtler
- (88.) 0:2 - Alessandro Vogt
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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88.
Vogt redeems St.Gallen and makes it 2:0
Redemption for St.Gallen came in the middle of Yverdon's pressure phase. Vogt scores with his head after Vandermersch's preparatory work to make it 2:0 and thus the preliminary decision.
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80.
Marchesano tries a bicycle kick
Yverdon piled on the pressure and forced St.Gallen into a defensive line. After a deflected shot, the ball flies to Antonio Marchesano, who tries a bicycle kick. Watkowiak saves without any problems.
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78.
The final quarter of an hour has begun
Neither Yverdon nor St.Gallen are able to create any scoring chances at the moment. Martin Andermatt tries to breathe new life into the Challenge League club with a triple substitution.
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68.
Yverdon with new courage
The lower-ranked side are keeping up much better than in the first half and are putting St.Gallen under pressure. However, scoring chances are still in short supply.
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59.
Saiz only hits the crossbar - Yverdon almost equalize
Out of nowhere, Yverdon have a great chance to equalize. Marchesano passes to Saiz, who takes a direct shot and misses the crossbar.
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57.
Baldé stopped at the last moment
The St.Gallen attacks become rarer. However, Baldé gets into a dangerous position to finish after a Görtler pass, but is stopped at the last moment.
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51.
First chance for Yverdon
In the 51st minute, the underdogs take their first corner of the game - and it immediately becomes dangerous. Central defender Gnakpa gets in a header, but it flies over the St.Gallen box.
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44.
Enzler clears against Vogt
Shortly before the break, St.Gallen have another good chance to score. Vogt gets his shot away from an acute angle, but Enzler saves with his foot.
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38.
Yverdon get into the game a little better
The home team are able to keep the game more balanced and keep the ball in their own ranks for longer. However, the underdogs are still not threatening to score.
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31.
St.Gallen remain dominant
The Super League club dominate the game, but do not create any further big chances in the final minutes. However, Yverdon are exclusively occupied with defensive work.
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17.
The crossbar saves for Yverdon
St.Gallen have everything under control here in the opening phase and are looking for the second goal. A corner again creates danger, but Weibel's header hits the crossbar. Luck for Yverdon. Shortly afterwards, Boukhalfa gets his shot away but is unable to trouble Enzler with his low shot.
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11.
Vogt misses a great chance to make it 2:0
Yverdon and goalkeeper Enzler make a mistake in the build-up and give St.Gallen a great chance to extend their lead. Vogt takes a shot from close range but does not hit the ball properly and misses the great chance to score a second goal.
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7.
Görtler gives St.Gallen an early lead
The visitors go ahead! After a short corner kick, Baldé gets his head to Vandermersch's cross. Yverdon goalie Enzler is able to save it, but Espen captain Görtler is wide awake and on the spot for the rebound - St.Gallen get off to the best possible start.
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4.
First controversial scene in the Yverdon penalty area
Baldé bursts into the opponent's penalty area at great speed for the first time and goes to ground after dribbling. However, referee San's whistle remains silent. Shortly afterwards, Boukhalfa is fouled near the edge of the penalty area, but the resulting free kick ends up in the Yverdon wall.
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1.
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0.
The line-ups are here
From 3 p.m., Yverdon and St.Gallen will decide the second place in the final between themselves. This is how the two teams will line up at the Stade Municipal in Yverdon:
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0.
GC fans attack their own team bus - Alain Sutter: "Taking abuse is also part of the job"
GC fail to beat Lausanne-Ouchy in the Cup semi-final, causing a lot of frustration among the many supporters who had traveled with them They storm the pitch and even attack the GC team bus. Michi Frey and Alain Sutter speak out after the game. Click here for the article.
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0.
Lausanne-Ouchy knocks out the Hoppers and advances to the cup final
In the first Cup semi-final on Saturday, Stade Lausanne-Ouchy became the tenth team from a lower division to reach the Swiss Cup final. The Vaud side from the Challenge League beat Grasshoppers 2-0 at home. Click here for the match report.
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90.+4.End of 2nd half
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90.+2.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Betim Fazliji
Midfielder
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90.+2.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Lukas Görtler
Midfielder
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90.+2.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Nevio Scherrer
Striker
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90.+2.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Alessandro Vogt
Striker
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88.Goal for FC St.Gallen, 0:2 through Alessandro Vogt
Alessandro Vogt
Striker
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87.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Mihailo Stevanovic
Midfielder
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87.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Carlo Boukhalfa
Midfielder
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79.Substitution in Yverdon Sport FC
Mahamadou Kanouté
Striker
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79.Substitution out Yverdon Sport FC
Ousmane Doumbia
Midfielder
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79.Substitution in Yverdon Sport FC
Dejan Sorgic
Striker
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79.Substitution out Yverdon Sport FC
Hélios Sessolo
Striker
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79.Substitution in Yverdon Sport FC
Lorenzo Bittarelli
Defender
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79.Substitution out Yverdon Sport FC
Mohamed Tijani
Defender
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75.Yellow card Yverdon Sport FC
Jason Gnakpa
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69.Substitution in Yverdon Sport FC
Noha Lemina
Midfielder
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69.Substitution out Yverdon Sport FC
Aurélien Chappuis
Midfielder
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66.Substitution in FC St.Gallen
Diego Besio
Striker
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66.Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Aliou Baldé
Striker
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61.Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Hugo Vandermersch
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60.Yellow card Yverdon Sport FC
Aurélien Chappuis
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57.Substitution in Yverdon Sport FC
Ranjan Neelakandan
Striker
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57.Substitution out Yverdon Sport FC
Varol Tasar
Striker
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+2.End of 1st half
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7.Goal for FC St.Gallen, 0:1 through Lukas Görtler
Lukas Görtler
Midfielder
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1.Start of the match
