Keystone
GC can prepare for a return to the Super League after two years. In the duel for the direct promotion place GC defeated Thun 3: 1 and increased his cushion in the table to seven points.
The Grasshoppers had not always shone in the promotion race in the last few weeks. There was, for example, the final rehearsal for the top game against Thun in the Challenge League bottom line Chiasso on Tuesday, which ended in a disappointing 2-2 for Zurich. On Friday evening, in front of 100 spectators, the people of Zurich showed a different face, were ready on the point and are therefore allowed to plan to return to the Super League soon.
The top duel with Thun had the worst possible start for GC. After seven minutes, the guest from the Bernese Oberland took the lead with Saleh Chihadeh’s first chance of the game. João Pereira’s team reacted to the setback in the style of the sovereign leader of the Challenge League and found a deserved equalizer through Dominik Schmid shortly before the break.
In the second half, Ermir Lenjani (51st) secured the three points that should mean direct promotion for the Zurich team after some remarkable preparatory work by Shkelqim Demhasaj and Petar Pusic (62nd). Seven points on pursuer Thun, who in turn has a five-point cushion on the rest of the competition, will hardly lose GC in the last five rounds.
In the fight against relegation, FC Chiasso celebrated an unexpected and immensely important 2-1 victory against Stade Lausanne-Ouchy. Thanks to the three points, the bottom group from Ticino caught up to one point with Neuchâtel Xamax, who lost 3-0 in Schaffhausen. One year after relegation from the Super League, the Neuchâtel players are also threatened with banishment from the second-highest Swiss league.
Telegrams and ranking list:
Grasshoppers – Thun 3: 1 (1: 1). – SR Staubli. – Tore: 7. Chihadeh 0: 1. 43. Schmid 1: 1. 51. Lenjani 2: 1. 62. Pusic 3: 1.
Winterthur – Aarau 3: 3 (2: 1). – SR Schärli. – Tore: 11. Mahamid (Foulpenalty) 1: 0. 17. Spadanuda 1: 1. 30. Arnold 2: 1. 52. Almeida 2: 2. 86. Almeida 2: 3. 88. Ramizi 3: 3.
Chiasso – Stade Lausanne-Ouchy 2-1 (2-1). – SR Gianforte. – Goals: 23. Ajdini 0-1. 32 Marzouk 1: 1. 42 Malinowski 2: 1. – Remarks: 17. Red card against Albizua (Lausanne-Ouchy / Foul).
Schaffhausen – Neuchâtel Xamax 3-0 (0-0). – SR Thies. – Goals: 58th Prtajin 1-0. 76 Pollero (foul penalty) 2-0. 93. Mozzone 3: 0. – Remarks: 75. Yellow-red card Mveng (Neuchâtel Xamax / Foul).
Ranking: 1st Grasshoppers 31/61 (54:35). 2. Thun 31/54 (50:41). 3. Aarau 31/49 (55:51). 4th Stade Lausanne-Ouchy 31/48 (47:35). 5. Schaffhausen 31/48 (50:39). 6. Winterthur 31/40 (46:43). 7. Wil 30/34 (33:38). 8. Kriens 30/30 (31:38). 9. Neuchâtel Xamax FCS 31/30 (30:52). 10. Chiasso 31/29 (28:52).
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