St Gallen cruise past Sheriff in Conference League qualifier
St Gallen put their recent defeat to Benfica behind them with a convincing 5:1 win over Sheriff Tiraspol in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. The match at the Berit Sitterstadion on Wednesday night ended with the Swiss side well clear, and the result extends their unbeaten run to eight games. To be fair, this was a different performance from the one that saw them lose 0:5 to Benfica three weeks ago. The home side took control early and never looked back.
Deep into the opening minute D. Besio struck, catching the goalkeeper before Sheriff could settle. Sheriff responded almost immediately when D. Forov found the net in the ninth minute, though it proved to be an own goal that levelled the score. By then St Gallen were unsettled, but they quickly reasserted themselves. A. Hunziker doubled the lead in the 34th minute, and just before half-time the visitors saw Ciss Baye Assane booked. The first half ended 2:1 to the hosts, and the momentum was already shifting.
The second half opened with two substitutions for St Gallen in the 46th minute, bringing on C. Kleine-Bekel and L. Daschner. Rai Lopes received a yellow card for Sheriff in the 48th minute, and the visitors never recovered their shape. Hunziker added his second goal in the 59th minute, and Besio made it four in the 76th. M. Stevanovic completed the scoring in the 87th minute, and the result was never in doubt after that. Sheriff managed one substitution for Forov in the 58th minute, but it made little difference to the outcome.
The statistics tell the story plainly. St Gallen held 65 per cent possession and created eight big chances compared to just one for the visitors. Their expected goals figure of 3.53 was comfortably exceeded by the five they scored, while Sheriff's 1.14 xG contrasted sharply with the single goal they managed from an own goal. Eleven shots on target against two for the visitors shows who dominated the final third. St Gallen completed 404 passes to Sheriff's 169, and their key passes were equal at 13 apiece, but the quality of delivery separated the two sides.
The result means St Gallen move closer to progression in the competition, and the margin of victory suggests confidence rather than luck. Sheriff's recent form includes a 5:1 win over Bălţi and a 1:0 victory against Dacia-Buiucani, but they could not replicate that here. The visitors had won two of their previous three away matches in all competitions, but this was a different challenge entirely. St Gallen now have one foot in the next round if they can maintain this level.