Tom Gaal’s late header gives St Gallen a 2-1 win over Benfica

St Gallen beat Benfica 2-1 in a sold-out Europa League qualifier. Tom Gaal headed the winning goal with ten minutes remaining.

Aliou Baldé had opened the scoring before Rafa Silva equalised. The Swiss side now carry a one-goal lead into Lisbon.

Baldé completes a fast first-half attack

The first goal arrived in the thirty-seventh minute. Mihailo Stevanović won possession deep inside Benfica’s half.

Lukas Görtler moved the ball quickly toward Aliou Baldé. The forward entered the area from a narrow angle.

Baldé struck before Benfica could close the shooting lane. His shot beat Anatoliy Trubin.

Christian Witzig had missed a headed chance one minute earlier. He could not keep the ball below the crossbar.

Witzig then released Baldé for another clear opportunity. Trubin touched that effort away before it crossed the line.

St Gallen created three important chances during a short period. Baldé converted one of them.

Rafa Silva replies before the interval

Benfica found an equaliser during the forty-fourth minute. Their central attack reached Rafa Silva near the penalty area.

Rafa guided his shot past Lawrence Ati Zigi. The goalkeeper touched the ball but could not prevent the goal.

The equaliser arrived seven minutes after St Gallen moved ahead. It also sent the teams into half-time level.

Benfica captain António Silva started in central defence. Vangelis Pavlidis led the attack in front of him.

St Gallen captain Görtler remained central to the home side’s possession. He played the pass for Baldé’s goal.

The first half therefore ended with one scorer from each team. Both goals came before the final eight minutes.

Three substitutions change the home attack

Enno Maassen introduced three players after seventy-two minutes. Leon Frokaj, Andrin Hunziker and Diego Besio entered together.

The substitutions gave St Gallen fresh movement in attack. Frokaj soon carried the ball down the left.

A foul on Frokaj led to a free kick in the seventy-ninth minute. Lukas Daschner took it.

Daschner sent the ball toward the far post. Gaal found space and met the cross with his head.

The header beat Trubin in the eightieth minute. St Gallen regained the lead with little time remaining.

Gaal had started as part of the home defence. His attacking contribution decided the first leg.

St Gallen protect the late lead

The home side allowed no further goal after Gaal’s header. Benfica used several substitutions during the final period.

Tiago Gouveia and Enzo Barrenechea had entered after sixty-six minutes. Franjo Ivanović replaced Pavlidis later.

St Gallen kept their shape through regulation time and stoppage time. The final whistle confirmed a one-goal victory.

The match drew 17,179 spectators to the Berit Sitterstadion. Every available seat was sold before kick-off.

Italian referee Luca Pairetto managed the match. Three players received yellow cards during the ninety minutes.

The referee booked Görtler, Jozo Stanić and Pavlidis.

Lisbon will decide which club advances

St Gallen take a 2-1 aggregate lead into the return match. Benfica still have a home leg to change the outcome.

The Swiss side scored once from open play and once from a free kick. Benfica’s goal also came from central open play.

Baldé, Rafa and Gaal were the three scorers. Each goal arrived in a different ten-minute period.

The first leg gave St Gallen a valuable result against experienced opposition. It did not complete the qualifying round.

Benfica require a better score in Lisbon to remain in control. St Gallen can advance by protecting their aggregate advantage.

The second match will begin with only one goal between the teams. Gaal’s late header created that difference.

Gaal scores from a late free kick

St Gallen earned the decisive free kick after Frokaj attacked the left side.

Daschner crossed the free kick toward the far post.

Gaal escaped his marker and met the cross at the far post.

His header travelled back across Trubin and inside the opposite side.

The goal rewarded the substitutions that added pace to the home attack.

Benfica had more possession after the interval but created no second equaliser.

Ati Zigi handled the final crosses and protected the lead through stoppage time.

The sold-out attendance gave the Swiss club a full stadium for the qualifier.

St Gallen scored once from open play and once from a free kick.

Benfica return home needing to overturn Gaal’s late contribution.

The home side create chances before the winner

Witzig first threatened with a header that travelled above the crossbar.

He later released Baldé into space, but Trubin stopped the next attempt.

Those attacks showed St Gallen could reach the area through open play.

Benfica replied through Rafa before the home side changed their front line.

Frokaj won the free kick that led to the winning goal.

Gaal then scored after spending most of the match in defence.

The three substitutes gave St Gallen fresh energy in the final minutes.

St Gallen protected the new lead through the remaining regulation time.

The scorers arrive from different positions

Baldé opened the scoring from the forward line after a quick home attack.

Rafa answered for Benfica shortly before the half-time interval.

Defender Gaal then decided the match by joining a late free kick.