Swansea City have qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League, despite falling to a 1-0 defeat to St Gallen.
The Welsh outfit were second best to a spirited Swiss side, who deservedly netted the winning goal through Marco Mathys with 10 minutes remaining.
However, Michael Laudrup's team will feature in this competition after Christmas after Kuban Krasnodar failed to defeat Valencia at the Mestalla.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at the AFG Arena.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the match between St Gallen and Swansea City in the Europa League.
For two games and 92 minutes, Swansea City dominated Group A, and they look a certainty to qualify for the knockout stages. However, since a late Kuban Krasnodar penalty denied them all three points at the Liberty Stadium, Michael Laudrup's side have struggled to get over the finish line and tonight represents their last opportunity to progress through to the last 32.
Valencia are assured of first place, leaving Swansea and Krasnodar to fight over the runner-up position. The Swans need just a point to confirm their spot in the second round, but if they lose and Krasnodar win in Valencia, the Welsh club could be looking at an early exit.
The team news is in from Switzerland, and Swansea supporters will be pleased to hear that striker Wilfried Bony returns after a two-week layoff. Full details to follow.
SWANSEA CITY XI: Tremmel; Tiendalli, Chico, Amat, Taylor; Shelvey, De Guzman; Routledge, Pozuelo, Lamah; Bony
ST GALLEN XI: Herzog; Besle, Russo, Wuthrich, Mutsch; Mathys, Lenjani, Janjatovic, Demiri; Rodriguez, Karanovic
SWANSEA CITY SUBSTITUTES: Oliver Davies, Ben Davies, Williams, Canas, Dyer, Hernandez, Michu
ST GALLEN SUBSTITUTES: Lopar, Schonenberger, Franin, Nushi, Nater, Martic, Keita
Laudrup has made six changes from the side that drew with Hull City on Monday evening. Bony's inclusion could be significant, but his selection has resulted in Michu dropping to the bench. Defender Jordi Amat has also been given the nod over captain Ashley Williams.
Young goalkeeper Olivier Davies has also been included on the substitutes' bench in place of Michel Vorm. If you missed the earlier news, the Dutch stopper has revealed that he has been managing a knee problem which will require surgery in January.
PREDICTION! St Gallen looked a decent side when they played at the Liberty Stadium earlier in the campaign, but they have faltered over the past two months. They are likely to be a force on their own patch, but Swansea's desire to get a result could earn them a 1-1 draw.
If you would like to keep track of the match in Valencia, you can do by clicking here.
The teams are out in Switzerland. It's looking very misty inside the stadium. I hope that doesn't play a factor later in the match.
We are underway. Actually, the mist looks worse than I first thought...
St Gallen earn the first free kick of the match after a handball from Pozuelo, but it comes to nothing. It's a hostile atmosphere inside the AFG Arena, and Swansea could do will silencing the home fans as soon as possible.
Pozuelo and Routledge combine to release the former Tottenham Hotspur down the right and he is pulled back by the defender. However, De Guzman's delivery is disappointing and St Gallen clear.
SHOT! Routledge rampages forward, but his pass to Pozuelo is a bit tight. The ball ricochets to Lamah, who curls a first-time shot from 20 yards that marginally misses the top corner.
Goran Karanovic's game is done. The striker began to chase the ball in midfield, but he immediately pulled up with an hamstring injury. He is helped off the pitch, and he will be replaced by Alhassane Keita.
That's an incredibly ambitious effort from Marco Mathys. The ball bounced kindly for him on the right-hand side, but he was never going to beat Tremmel from all of 40 yards.
That's very poor from St Gallen, who attempt to play the ball back to Herzog, but they get it all wrong and it goes for a corner. De Guzman's cross causes confusion around the six-yard box, but the visitors can't take advantage.
It's still goalless in the game in Valencia. It appears to be a pretty even game, but the hosts have had the better of the early opportunities.
A super break from Lamah down the left-hand side earns Swansea a corner, but again, they don't beat the first man. The visitors are getting into some threatening positions, but they aren't making the most of them.
Without tempting fate or anything, Swansea would be very disappointed if they don't earn the point that they need tonight. While they look decent in patches, St Gallen look very limited.
What a waste! De Guzman runs the length of the pitch and he has men over in support. However, he hangs onto the ball far too long, and his pass is blocked by the defender. That was a very good opening for Swansea.
Neil Taylor goes in late on Mathys to gift St Gallen a free kick. The visitors had six men in the box, but the Swiss midfielder aimed for the near post, and the ball went straight into the hands of Tremmel.
The conditions are beginning to deteriorate in Switzerland. It is becoming increasingly difficult to see the action, and the referee might have a decision to make before too long.
CHANCE! Swansea create their second significant chance of the the match, and again, it falls to Lamah. The Belgian winger advanced towards goal, but he dragged his shot wide of the post from 20 yards. At the very least, he should have hit the target.
We are into the final 10 minutes of the first half, and Swansea seem content on maintaining possession in the middle third of the pitch. Michael Laudrup's side are doing what they need to, but if they could nick a goal before half time, they would have one foot in the knockout stages.
St Gallen earn a free kick around 25 yards out after Amat is adjudged to have tugged the shirt of Wuthrich. Janjatovic steps up to take the set piece, but that's one of the weakest shots you are ever likely to see, and Tremmel claims after the ball bounced in front of him.
St Gallen are having the better of the final five minutes of the half, but while they look threatening, they are struggling to keep their composure in front of goal, with Janjatovic being at fault for the second time in the space of a few minutes.
There will be one minute of added-on time.
HALF TIME: St Gallen 0-0 Swansea City
The half-time whistle goes in Switzerland, and the two teams go into the break with the game level at 0-0. There hasn't been much action in either penalty area, but Swansea are 45 minutes away from earning a place in the second round.
Both teams have had four shots each in the AFG Arena, but Swansea have won three corners to St Gallen's one. However, the visitors have dominated possession with 64% of the ball.
There are still no goals in the match between Valencia and Kuban Krasnodar at the Mestalla. The home side have definitely had the majority of the ball, but the Russian team are holding firm to keep their hopes of progression alive.
The two teams are back out in Switzerland.
St Gallen get us underway. Good news on the visibility front - the mist has lifted.
While Laudrup will obviously be keen to get the desired result tonight, it wouldn't come as a surprise if he replaces a couple of his high-profile attackers at some point in the second half with one eye on Sunday's fixture with Norwich City.
CHANCE! Swansea should be ahead. De Guzman swung over a fantastic corner that found Bony, but after getting ahead of the defender, the Ivorian headed wide of the near post.
CHANCE! Now St Gallen should be ahead! Shelvey lost the ball in midfield, and Roberto Rodriguez was played clear of the Swansea defence. However, with just Tremmel to beat, the striker fired the ball straight at the goalkeeper and it rebounded to safety.
Both teams are showing a lot more intent at the start of this second half, but we remain goalless. Maybe the lacklustre first half was down to the mist? I know, I am clutching at straws.
CHANCE! Unbelievable! How on earth has Rodriguez not scored that?! The striker burst clear of the Swansea defence, and despite having two men over, he decided to shoot. That proved to be the wrong decision as he fired the ball straight at Tremmel.
You won't be surprised to hear that Rodriguez has been substituted. He has had a nightmare. Chico Flores appears to have picked up an ankle injury, and he looks in some discomfort.
WOODWORK! Swansea are beginning to live dangerously now. The home side win a free kick from 25 yards, which Wuthrich curls over the wall and against the post. Jose Canas has been introduced for Wayne Routledge.
SUBSTITUTION! Ashley Williams has been thrown on in place of the injured Chico Flores.
Swansea need to do something to halt St Gallen's momentum, because the Swiss outfit are building up a head of steam. However, there is news coming in from the Mestalla...
VALENCIA HAVE THE LEAD! That's massive news for Swansea. Kuban Krasnodar now need two goals in the final 20 minutes in the Mestalla to stop Swansea going through.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Wow. Big moments in Switzerland. St Gallen think that they have the lead, but it has been ruled out by one of the officials behind the goal for a push on Neil Taylor. It looks the correct decision too.
OFF THE LINE! St Gallen are relentless. A corner is whipped in for Mathys to bullet a header towards goal, but Canas is on hand to clear the ball off the line. It's one-way traffic.
GOAL! St Gallen 1-0 Swansea City (Mathys)
St Gallen's pressure finally pays off, and they deserve their lead. The home side took a quick free kick down the left, and the ball was fired into the middle for Mathys to tap home through a group of players.
Fear not though, Swansea fans. As it stands, your team is still heading through to the knockout stages. Valencia are still ahead at the Mestalla, so unless they concede two goals in the final 10 minutes, Michael Laudrup's team will be taking their place in the last 32.
Kuban Krasnodar have equalised! That's come out of nowhere. If the Russian side can get another goal, then things could get complicated. Back in Switzerland, Hernandez, who has replaced Bony, has fired the ball wide from 16 yards.
Ashley Williams heads over at the near post after meeting a corner. Swansea are beginning to push for the equaliser that would put their qualification beyond doubt.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
Valencia are down to 10 men in the Mestalla. That isn't going to help Swansea's cause.
FULL TIME: St Gallen 1-0 Swansea City
It's all over in Switzerland, and Swansea have lost 1-0 to St Gallen. However, they have QUALIFIED! Valencia managed to hold onto a point in the Mestalla, so the Premier League club will feature in the knockout stages after Christmas.
That will be all from Sports Mole from this match, but please stick around. We have plenty more Europa League action coming up over the next couple of hours! Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
