FCZ returns to victory path – Sport

• FC Zurich beat Sion 1-0 at home in the 8th round of the Super League and sit at the top of the table with Lucerne and Lugano (17 points each).
• Mariano Gomez made the decision with a header from a free kick in the 17th minute.
• Sion hits the crossbar twice in the final minutes.
• In Sunday’s other matches, Lugano (vs. Winterthur) and Lucerne (vs. Basel) celebrate their home victories.

FC Zurich were dismissed by St. Gallen last Tuesday with a 1-4 defeat. Before the duel with Sion, the question arose as to how the Zurich team, coached by the ambitious Ricardo Moniz, would react to their first defeat of the season.

The answer in short: With a narrow 1-0 home victory, which at least temporarily puts FCZ back at the top of the table – along with Lucerne and Lugano. Central defender Mariano Gomez is mainly responsible for these 3 points. The Argentinian, who joined from Atletico Madrid’s second team in July, gave his side the lead in the 17th minute after a Mounir Chouiar free kick and eventually the victory.

Sittener Chancenwucher

But this victory – Zurich’s first home victory against Sion since April 2022 – was by no means without risks. After the break, the 1:1 equalization was indicated several times. The FCZ allowed the Valais visitors to approach their own penalty area surprisingly often. After the final whistle, the Sion team had to be accused of not exploiting their opportunities more.

Playmaker Anton Mirantschuk, one of Sion’s most notable names, was the most visible player on the Letzigrund pitch from the first minutes of the second half:

• 48. Minutes : FCZ goalkeeper Yanick Brecher unconventionally blocks a Mirantschuk free kick in the short corner with his right foot.
• 51. Minutes: Mirantschuk tries to thwart Brecher with a high attempt. The ball does not reach the goal, but on it.
• 54. Minutes : Mirantschuk missed Sorgic in front of goal after a good individual performance. All he had to do was extend his foot to equalize.

Sion hit the crossbar twice

After a 20-minute break with no reaction from the home team, Sion made further attempts towards the FCZ goal and came close to the much-deserved equalizer in the 81st minute. Brazilian Baltazar sent the ball onto the crossbar with a volley.

But that wasn’t the last highlight. Towards the end of the match, FC Zurich seemed almost begging for an equalizer. But because Sion, in the person of Théo Bouchlarhem, aimed too high, particularly on the crossbar, from the 4th minute of stoppage time, FCZ could rejoice in returning to victory.

This is how it continues

Before the Nati break, FCZ welcomes Lugano next Sunday, still at 2:15 p.m. The day before, the Sionnais welcome Yverdon-Sport to the Tourbillon at 6 p.m.