There was only one team on the field at the Municipal this Saturday. This is the impression left by the demonstration of FC Basel at Yverdon (1-4), in this match – which only bore the name – of the 14th day of the Super League. Outclassed in all areas of the game, the Nord-Vaudois conceded a third consecutive defeat after those against Lausanne-Sport and Lugano.
A series which keeps them in the soft stomach (8th), while awaiting the results of Sion (9th) and Young Boys (10th) on Sunday, respectively against Lucerne and Lugano. Basel, on the other hand, is moving forward with great strides. Fabio Celestini’s team, with this fifth victory in six matches, temporarily takes the leadership position.
Cornered from the first seconds, Yverdon also found itself down to ten in the 19th minute after the expulsion of Anthony Sauthier, penalized for a sole on the ankle of Bénie Traoré. From then on, the Basel pressure intensified and led to the opening score, signed by Dominik Schmid. The Aargau full-back tried his luck from 20 meters and it hit the mark, with the help of the unfortunate Jason Gnakpa whose involuntary calf deviation made the shot unpredictable (32nd).
Showing off its superiority without forcing, Basel widened the gap just before the break on a volley from Traoré (45th+1), served behind the defense by a delicious spiked ball from Xherdan Shaqiri. Author of his 7th assist of the season, “Big Shaq” has once again shined technically. Proving once again – if it were needed – that when he is on his legs, like at the moment, he stays above the fray in the Super League.
The Rhinelanders did not relax their grip in the second half and added to the score by Leon Avdullahu (51st), with a long shot similar in every way to the first goal. All that was missing was a success from Kevin Carlos to enhance the Basel evening – or punctuate the Yverdon nightmare, depending on your point of view. Back in this Municipal where he distinguished himself so much last season, the Spanish striker first came up against Paul Bernardoni (25th), took a shot too far from the penalty spot (27th) and crossed a header too far (40th) before finding the fault on the hour mark after a solo breakthrough (60th).
In this context, the reduction in Mauro Rodriguez’s score in the final moments (89th) appears anecdotal.
Yverdon Sport – FC Basel 1-4 (0-2)
Municipal Stadium. 4250 spectators.
Arbitrator: Sven Wolfensberger.
Buts: 32nd Schmid 0-1; 45th+1 Traoré 0-2; 51e Avdullahu 0-3; 60th Charles 0-4; 89th Rodrigues 1-4.
Yverdon: Bernardoni; Le Pogam, Tijani, Marques, Gunnarsson (46th Alves), Sauthier; Céspedes (46th Kacuri), Gnakpa (79th Sylla); Hautier (46th Rodrigues), Komano (71st Ntelo), Aké. Coach: Alessandro Mangiarratti.
FC Basel: Heat; Schmid, Vouilloz, Barisic (70th Adjetey), Mendes (58th Leroy); Avdullahu (58e Ajeti), Baron; Traoré (57th Soticek), Shaqiri (79th Sigua), Kade; Carlos. Coach: Fabio Celestini.
Warnings: 45e Traore; 62e Rodrigues; 66e Kade; 85e Carlos.
Notes: Yverdon without Diop, Esteves, González, Grodem, Loucif (injured) and Legowski (unspecified); Basel without Rüegg, van Breemen, Comas (injured) and Kololli (unspecified).
