The Young Boys lost 0-1 in Basel. Defender Adrian Barisic scored the only goal in the 52nd minute in a game in which Sandro Lauper was shown a red card shortly before half-time. The champions are at the bottom of the Super League table after nine rounds.
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YB sports director Steve von Bergen emphasized before kick-off in Basel: “We are aware of the situation. And we know that we can only get out of this together.” The goal this Sunday is therefore clear: “We came here to achieve a positive result.”
Compared to the Champions League game in Barcelona, coach Patrick Frame made three changes. David von Ballmoos returns in goal, Ebrima Colley has to make way for Cheikh Niasse, and Silvere Ganvoula replaces Cedric Itten in attack. YB starts with concentration and the first good opportunities. After a cross from Lewin Blum, Filip Ugrinic is unlucky that the ball lands on the outside post (15th). Jaouen Hadjam is stopped by Marwin Hitz after a nice solo (23rd). And finally it is Hadjam again who creates danger in front of the opponent’s goal. His shot after a nice attack just missed the target (34′).
The Bernese are actually good at the game. And after 36 minutes it looks like their best chance yet will be presented to them. Sandro Lauper goes down in the Basel penalty area, referee Luca Cibelli indicates: foul by Romario Baro, penalty. But then the VAR switches on. Cibelli looks at the TV images and takes back the penalty.
Shortly afterwards, Lauper takes center stage again, this time with a foul on Bénie Traoré. Cibelli punishes getting in with a dismissal. YB has to make do with ten men from the 40th minute onwards and survive a tricky moment before the break. David von Ballmoos thwarts a chance from Kevin Carlos (42′).
But a few minutes after the break the YB goalie is overcome. After a free kick from Xherdan Shaqiri, Adrian Barisic scored with his head to make it 1-0 for the locals (52nd). YB, with Meschack Elia instead of Kastriot Imeri since the beginning of the second half, is forced to react. But the Basel team controlled the action and came close to making it 2-0 after an hour when Kevin Carlos hit the crossbar with a header.
YB doesn’t find it easy to create chances. But in the 79th minute a standard almost made it 1-1. Mohamed Ali Camara heads a free kick from Darian Males, but Basel goalkeeper Hitz prevents the equalizer. In front of 28,463 spectators in St. Jakob-Park, the guest can no longer avert another defeat. And because Winterthur beat GC 1-0 the night before, YB is at the bottom of the table after nine rounds.
«We had to complete more than 50 minutes outnumbered and did well. It’s not easy to survive with ten men in Basel,” says Captain David von Ballmoos, “which makes it all the more annoying that the goal came after a set-piece situation.”
Now there is a two-week break for YB because of the international matches. It continues on Saturday, October 19th, with the home game in the Super League against FC Luzern (6:00 p.m.). Four days later there will be the third game of the UEFA Champions League against Inter Milan in Wankdorf (9:00 p.m.).
Lewin Blum in a duel with Bénie Traoré. (Photo: freshfocus)
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