Benfica Embarrasses Itself with Europa League Qualifying Loss to St. Gallen
Portuguese record champions Benfica Lisbon suffered a shocking 1-2 defeat against Swiss side FC St. Gallen in the second round of Europa League qualifiers, facing potential elimination before their domestic season even begins. The Portuguese media reacted harshly, with 'A Bola' calling it a 'scandalous defeat' and stating 'terrible would be a compliment.' St. Gallen took the lead through former Bochum flop Baldé in the 37th minute, but Rafa equalized just before halftime. In the 80th minute, Tom Gaal—who played for third-division relegated Ulm last season—scored the winning header for the Swiss. Benfica's new coach Marco Silva, who came from Fulham, faces an early crisis. The result continues Benfica's recent struggles, having missed Champions League qualification last season despite remaining unbeaten under José Mourinho. The second leg takes place in Lisbon next Thursday.
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