Numa Lavanchy, Baltazar, Liam Chipperfield, Dejan Sorgic and Théo Berdayes (from left to right) celebrate the opening goal.
Martin Meienberger/Freshfocus
Three months. Or 92 days and nights. Or nine Super League championship matches. Here, in different forms, is the series which FC Sion ended by winning on Sunday afternoon against Lucerne in its Tourbillon stadium (4-2). The team coached by Didier Tholot had only returned draws (5 times) and setbacks (4 times) since August 10 and its 2-0 success against Winterthur.
In front of their home crowd, the Valaisans went through an anthology of emotions against opponents who had grabbed eight points more than them at the time of kick-off. They exuded joy and confidence after a simply idyllic start to the game.
Dejan Sorgic opened the scoring before all the spectators were seated by punctuating a triangulation initiated by Ilyas Chouaref and relayed with a header by Liam Chipperfield (2nd). And, at the end of a three-on-two break, Chouaref thwarted the vigilance of Pascal Loretz with a shot taken about twenty meters from the target (2-0 in the 18th minute).
Young Boys and Saint-Gall rekindle the flame
In need of results for several weeks, Young Boys and Saint-Gall found a smile again this Sunday, at the end of the 14th day of the Super League. The reigning champion pocketed three important points at Wankdorf against Lugano (2-1), at the end of a match marked by penalties. Cedric Itten (19th) and Anto Grgic (33rd) each achieved theirs, then Shkelqim Vladi missed his at the last second (90th+5), preventing the Ticino residents from leaving with a point. In the meantime, Alan Virginius had restored the advantage to the Yellow and Black (76th).
Saint-Gall, for its part, acquired its first victory in the league since September 24 in Zurich against Grasshopper (1-2), completing a dark series which lasted eight matches. Abdoulaye Diaby (26th) and Lukas Görtler (60th) showed the way to the Brodeurs, who had already reassured themselves three days earlier in the Conference League in Larne (1-2). Giotto Morandi reignited the suspense in the 84th minute, but it was too late.
In the standings, Lugano misses the opportunity to take the lead and remains 3rd (25 points), tied on points with Servette and one length behind FC Zurich. Saint-Gall swings in the first half (6th, 20 points) while YB climbs to 9th place (16 points). GC is bottom red (9 points).
Five changes at once
They were then filled with doubt when, after making their five changes at the break (!), Mario Frick’s Lucerne got back on track thanks to two surgical successes from their Togolese international Thibault Klidjé (49th and 59th).
They once again showed self-sacrifice because, rather than fearing losing and giving up the ball and territory to their tough opponents, they sought to win. And this state of mind was rewarded, Löfgren deflecting a cross from Chouaref into his own net (3-2 in the 61st), several Sédunois missing opportunities to create the break before Chouaref, again, did so at the 90th.
They finally jubilant and communicated with their fans by letting out a big “phew” of relief. The two-week truce will certainly be more joyous with this result.
Whirlwind. 10,000 spectators.
Buts: 2nd Sorgic 1-0, 18th Chouaref 2-0, 49th Klidjé 2-1, 59th Klidjé 2-2, 61st Löfgren (against his side) 3-2, 90th Chouaref 4-2.
Sion: Fayulu; Lavanchy, Schmied, Diouf, Hefti; Kabacalman (84e Kronig), Baltazar; Chipperfield (71e Sousa), Berdayes (76e Bouchlarhem), Chouaref; Sorgic (71e Bouriga). Entrepreneur: Tholot.
Lucerne: Loretz (46th Vasic); Ottiger, Löfgren, Knezevic, Ciganiks (46th Ulrich); Stankovic; Dorn (46th Spadanuda), Rrudhani, Winkler (46th Owusu); Villiger (46th Grbic), Klidje. Coach: Frick.
Notes: Zion without Bua, Horses and Miranchuk (blessed); Lucerne without Beka, Beloko, Chader, Karweina (blessed) and Kadak (sick).
Warnings: Ciganiks (38e), Sorgic (45e), Schmied (56e), Ottiger (86e).
Swiss
