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The game is over – FCB loses 0-1 against GC
The Zurich team celebrate their first win under coach Tomas Oral and say goodbye to an otherwise sobering year with a win.
GC captain Amir Abrashi is happy about the victory in Basel.
Photo: Daniela Frutiger (Freshfocus)
At the Grasshopper Club Zurich you should be happy that the year is finally over. Because if you’re being completely honest, 2024 was just frustrating for the people of Zurich. Seven wins from 38 games, that says it all. Plus 20 defeats, a change of ownership and four coaches, if you count interim solution Giuseppe Morello. The only good news was the barrage won against Thun.
And yet the club still managed to say goodbye to the year with a good feeling. Under the new coach Tomas Oral, GC had not lost three times in a row in the Super League, at least. But now the first victory followed against FC Basel: GC won 1-0 (21st) in St. Jakob Park thanks to Noah Persson’s goal.
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The signs before the duel were clear: Basel was the favorite after their performances in the last few weeks and the narrow gap to the top of the table. GC the outsider after the recent performances, in which pretty much everything went against the Zurich team: police cauldrons, referee decisions and late goals conceded. But perhaps the people of Zurich saved their luck until the last game.
The scene that decides this game isn’t a scene at all. It only becomes so when FCB defender Jonas Adjetey stumbles on the ball in front of his own goal. Tim Meyer uses his body well in duels, Noah Persson is faster than Dominik Schmid and scores his first goal for Zurich with a precise finish.
It’s not deserved, at least not if you look at the usual criteria for football games after the game. Basel have more shares of the game, more corners, more shots, more duels won. But FCB have one goal less after 90 minutes, even if they hit one long ball after another into the penalty area in the last few minutes.
If things don’t work for Xherdan Shaqiri…
It remains the case that the club has continued to improve greatly, especially when you compare it to the previous year. But if Xherdan Shaqiri isn’t up to speed, then Basel have a problem with efficiency. This was shown against GC with lots of attempts but little danger. And if so, strong goalkeeper Justin Hammel was there.
“This victory is deserved,” said Hammel after the final whistle. “We have shown in the last few games that we can keep up with any opponent. We were often not efficient, but we did that perfectly today.” For Hammel, the victory in Basel is a “worthy end to the year” – as expected, things are different at FCB.
“We were too indecisive in the last 30 meters,” says Schmid, “that’s extremely annoying.” And so, despite an overall strong first half of the season, the Basel team went into the break with a bad feeling. The people of Basel certainly had imagined the club’s Christmas party on Saturday evening differently.
10:24 p.m
In fact: Shortly after Schmid’s shot, Piccolo whistled to end the game. GC wins a competitive game for the first time since September, Basel loses one for the first time since October.
I would like to say goodbye at this point and wish you happy holidays. See you next time!
10:21 p.m
Schmid, who felt like he spent the last half hour in the GC penalty area, also finishes again. The position is good, the shot isn’t bad either. However, a bit imprecise. Was that the last action of the game?
10:19 p.m
The guests play a clever counterattack, Bojang finishes. Hitz was able to deflect the bullet, but the scene was not without danger.
10:17 p.m
The injury time is likely to be hot.
10:17 p.m
Celestini is fully committed to storming. Offensive man Beney comes into play for right-back Mendes.
10:15 p.m
Ajeti heads the ball just wide of the Zurich box. At that point, ten Zurich and nine Basel players were within a narrow radius of the GC penalty area.
10:12 p.m
Ten different Basel players scored in the direction of Hammel’s goal this evening. Six of the shots found their way onto the goal, but none of them went in. Until now. Can the Basel team still manage to equalize here?
10:06 p.m
Basel’s number one identification figure also leaves the field. In his place, Sigua can play, who will probably ensure a more offensive style of play in Basel’s midfield.
10:01 p.m
A challenge against Bojang on the right sideline results in the newly substituted Basel defender being cautioned.
9:59 p.m
An elegant one-two with Shaqiri leads the Basel striker to the left in front of the opponent’s goal. Like every previous Basel degree, his is too central. No problem for Hammel.
9:56 p.m
… Celestini immediately makes a three-man change: Ajeti, Fink and Van Breemen come on for Carlos, Soticek and Adjetey. The two fresh offensive forces could definitely ensure that the knot breaks.
9:53 p.m
The furious red and blue starting phase has cooled down a bit, the game is similar to that of the first half. The Bebbi are running almost constantly, but can hardly find any solutions in the final third. Could a change perhaps provide the necessary impetus on the offensive?
9:47 p.m
Oral tags Muci and Bojang in for Lee and Meyer. There are two positionally correct changes.
9:44 p.m
Another chance for the home team. But another shot, this time from Kade, who flew centrally towards Hammel’s goal. Too central. Nevertheless: FCB seems closer to equalizing than ever before in the game so far.
9:43 p.m
Both Zurich players are cautioned for fouls.
9:42 p.m
Shaqiri kicks the ball, his shot gets stuck in the wall, but then lands at Soticek, who shoots centrally at the Zurich goal. Hammel can only defend the ball and not catch it, which is why Leroy finishes shortly afterwards. This time the Zurich goalkeeper is able to keep the ball.
9:40 p.m
There is another promising free kick for Basel. Shaqiri and Xhaka are standing with the ball, but it is clear which of the two will shoot.
9:32 p.m
Piccolo whistles for the second half. Both teams play unchanged.
9:26 p.m
63% ball possession, 4:2 corners, 3:3 shots on goal: Based on the statistics, it is not clear that Basel are deservedly behind at the break. Nevertheless, the fact that the Hoppers are leading here doesn’t come from anywhere.
Even if the red-blue team has a greater share of the game in terms of numbers, the guests are more forceful in their actions. They are compact at the back, but as soon as they switch, it invariably becomes dangerous for the Basel team. So far, the latter have not found any remedy against Zurich’s management of the game. Will anything change in the second half? The game should remain exciting.
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