St. Gallen 0-1 AEK: Escape from Switzerland and now … Wolfsburg – Europa League

The “golden” goal of the Union marked it Nelson Oliveira in the 71st minute with a closed place, having previously missed a penalty. Massimo Carrera’s players did not reach high performance standards, but they managed to get a significant result, with Petros Mandalo again making the difference, since it was he who took Oliveira out of the penalty area, with an excellent vertical.

1. SUPPORT TO VASILANTONOPOULOS AND 4-2-3-1

Massimo Carrera, as in the match against Panetolikos, presented a basic shirt to Stavros Vasilantonopoulos, rewarding him for his good appearance. The 28-year-old defense was placed this time on the far right of the defense and not in the midfield, with Michalis Bakakis on the bench. At the same time, Nenad Kristisic returned to the starting eleven, overcoming the injury problem, while, as happened in the second half at Agrinio, Karim Ansarifard started as a right-back, with Nelson Oliveira leading the way.

2. TSINTOTAS MADE THEM IN TEAMS AND Opponents

AEK passively entered the field and almost “paid” it before the five minutes of the game were completed. And not from an opponent, but from a team player, as Emanuel Insua in an attempt to take the ball from him sent it home, with Panagiotis Tsintotas repelled impressively. The torrential rain did not help the work of the players of Massimo Carrera, being St. Gallen more threatening, taking advantage of the bad reactions of the “yellowish”.

The highlight was Dmitro Czigrinski’s tragic mistake in the 37th minute, which gave Doa the opportunity to face Tsintotas, but again the AEK goalkeeper declared himself “present” and avoided danger for his team. In general, the Union goalkeeper was excellent in the first half, showing that he is in very good condition, after the two penalty saves against Olympiakos and Panetolikos.

Before, the only notable phase of the Union was a header from Livagia, after a foul by Mandalos, which went over the house of Ati-Zigi. However, Doua’s missed opportunity “woke up” the Carrera team which increased the tension, having two good moments with Vasilantonopoulos and Simoes.

3. VISITORS AT THE SAME WORK

The image of the game, despite the good last 10 minutes of the first half, has not changed. St. Gallen kept control and the reins of the game and looked for the goal, but Tsintotas held to the high standards of the first half and was there for his team whenever they needed him.

As for AEK, apart from a good cooperation between Ansarifard – Vasilantonopoulos and the head of Mandalos, he did not actually threaten Ati-Zigi’s house. The only significant phase came from a set phase, with Stratos Svarnas taking the lead, following a Mandalos corner kick, but the ball went out.

4. DEBUTO GARCÍA, GOL OLIVERA, THE DIFFERENCE MAND THEM

Massimo Carrera, seeing that his team is harmless offensively, replaced Livai Garcia on the field in place of Ansarifard. The Trinidad and Tobago winger debuted in the yellow and black jersey and provided immediate help. However, the difference in another game was made by Petros Mandalos.

The AEK captain, in the 70th minute, found Oliveira with a wonderful vertical-milk up to that point-, who entered the area and was overthrown by Leonidas Stergiou, with Alejandro Hernández aiming for the penalty spot. The execution was carried out by the Portuguese, with Ati-Zigi blocking the penalty, but himself taking the … rebound and scoring against an empty net for 0-1.

The St. Gallen players, after the goal, tried to react, but the ‘yellow-blacks’ closed the spaces and maintained until the end a great result that sends them to the Europa League playoffs.