Neuchâtel Xamax had to bounce back, during this 10th day of the Challenge League Championship, after the disappointment (1-0) suffered in Thun last weekend. And for this meeting against Schaffhausen, Uli Forte’s team returned to its 4-2-3-1 system, which had notably allowed it to win against Schaffhausen 2 weeks earlier. For the occasion, Francesco Lentini and Guillaume Furrer started up front, just behind Shkelqim Demhasaj. Returning from suspension, Fabio Saiz also returned to midfield at kick-off.
At the start of the match, possession of the ball was with the visitors who appeared dangerous from the 5th minute of play. Well launched on the left, midfielder Marc Giger entered the penalty area and adjusted his shot. But Edin Omeragić managed to stop this first alert. This warning had the merit of waking up the Red and Black a minute later. Well launched by Furrer on the right side, Michaël Gonçalves’ cross was poorly repelled by the opposing goalkeeper Gianni De Nitti. Lentini took advantage and concluded the action (1-0, 6th). Despite the rain, the atmosphere warmed up after this first goal. Schaffhausen was more aggressive but the Xamaxian defense remained united and effective on restarts. The locals managed to find a corner just before the first quarter of an hour. Kenan Fatkic shot it over the head of Fabio Saiz, who found a Schaffhausen defender. But, like a good fox, Demhasaj hung around in front of the cage and was quick to score the second goal (2-0, 14th).
The hardest part was done for the locals, who did not reduce their intensity however and continued their pressure on the German team. The latter, frustrated in attack, only managed to penetrate Omeragić’s area on one occasion in the first half. Without much success. Neuchâtel returned to the locker room with a comfortable advantage, to shouts from the corner: “Here, it’s Neuch’! “.
The second half started again like the first, with possession of the leather going to the benefit of FC Schaffhausen. But his players once again came up against the Neuchâtel defenders, who were intractable this evening. On the other side, the red and black attack created panic on each counterattack. And on a new corner played in two stages, Yoan Epitaux was not far from scoring the third goal for his team. But his header ended just off target (61st).
Schaffhausen was decreasing in intensity. Not Xamax. Paschal Onyekachi, who had just come on, rushed down the right side, before crossing into the area. The visitors’ defense emerged in disaster (71st). Nothing seemed to be working for Ciriaco Sforza’s men, who saw their last attacks countered by the Epitaux-Hajrulahu-Soro-Gonçalves quartet…until this twist of fate. Yet another ball pushed back by the Neuchâtel backs ended up at the feet of Felipe Pasadore. The Schaffhausen striker brought his team to within one goal (2-1, 86th).
Nothing to panic the Xamaxians, who suffered the last enemy offensives until the final whistle. Sixth victory in 10 matches for the red and black collective, which at the same time regained the top of the ranking, tied with Thun (19 points) before a new international break.
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