Soccer
FC Sion makes FC Thun Swiss champions. The in-form Valais team won 3-0 in St. Gallen, meaning that the eastern Swiss team no longer have any chance of catching Thun in the last three rounds.
On Saturday evening, the second attempt to become champions on their own was unsuccessful. The Thun players left Basel without having achieved anything and found themselves back at their own stadium early on Sunday afternoon, where they watched the match between St. Gallen and Sion together with the staff and their families – as well as the fans, who were offered a public viewing.
Despite the lack of live football, the Stockhorn Arena was well filled, better than on some match days in recent seasons in the Challenge League. The mood was still somewhat subdued at first, after all the anticipation had been disappointed three times recently. This time, however, things went in FC Thun’s favor. This Sunday, the promoted team will have its spontaneous champions’ party on Rathausplatz and the free night granted by the city.
Soccer Trembling in the first half
FC Sion, who would have made the Bernese Oberland champions with just a draw, fulfilled their task in St. Gallen in impressive fashion. Shortly before the break, Benjamin Kololli scored with his heel to make it 1-0 and Ilyas Chouaref doubled the lead after just over an hour. After Théo Berdayes made it 3-0 in the 77th minute at the latest, nobody doubted that the championship party in Thun would finally get underway.
All of Sion’s goals were cheered wildly in the Stockhorn Arena, and the first “Meischter, Schwiizermeischter” could already be heard after the second. The Thun fans had to tremble, especially in the first half, when St. Gallen were the better team and failed to score with two shots from the edge of the goal. A St. Gallen lead at the break would have been deserved and more logical than the advantage the Valais side had after the first 45 minutes.
But Sion are flying high. With their fourth win in a row, Didier Tholot’s team defended their 4th place against FC Basel and moved to within five points of St. Gallen, who lost for only the second time this year. The team from eastern Switzerland can live with the defeat, as the championship title was no longer realistic. Although the aim is still to finish in the European Cup places, the big goal is the cup final against Stade Lausanne-Ouchy on May 24.
Soccer Cup presentation on May 14
The rest of the season will be a pleasure for the Thun players. After the final whistle in St. Gallen, they celebrated on a small scale in the VIP area of their stadium before heading into the city center to meet the fans. They will receive the trophy in the last home game on May 14 on the occasion of the Bern derby against Young Boys.
Soccer Video ticker
76.
Soccer
Sion with the 3:0 – the decision63.
Soccer
Chouaref scores for Sion43.
Soccer
Kololli scores with a back heel – Sion lead in St.Gallen35.
Soccer
Racioppi and the crossbar prevent St.Gallen from taking the lead19.
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St.Gallen in VAR luck – Sion goal does not count90.+4.
Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Chima Okoroji
87.
Substitution in FC Sion
Donat Rrudhani
Midfielder
87.
Substitution out FC Sion
Ali Kabacalman
Midfielder
87.
Substitution in FC Sion
87.
Substitution out FC Sion
Josias Lukembila
Midfielder
79.
Substitution in FC Sion
Liam Chipperfield
Midfielder
79.
Substitution out FC Sion
Benjamin Kololli
Midfielder
78.
Substitution in FC St.Gallen
78.
Substitution out FC St.Gallen
78.
Substitution in FC St.Gallen
78.
Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Carlo Boukhalfa
Midfielder
78.
Substitution in FC St.Gallen
78.
Substitution out FC St.Gallen
Hugo Vandermersch
Midfielder
76.
Goal for FC Sion, 0:3 through Théo Berdayes (Benjamin Kololli)
Assist: Benjamin Kololli
Midfielder
73.
Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Lukas Görtler
68.
Substitution in FC Sion
68.
Substitution out FC Sion
Ilyas Chouaref
Midfielder
68.
Substitution in FC Sion
68.
Substitution out FC Sion
63.
Goal for FC Sion, 0:2 through Ilyas Chouaref
Ilyas Chouaref
Midfielder
61.
Substitution in FC St.Gallen
61.
Substitution out FC St.Gallen
61.
Substitution in FC St.Gallen
61.
Substitution out FC St.Gallen
54.
Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Nino Weibel
45.+2.
Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Jozo Stanic
45.
Yellow card FC Sion
Josias Lukembila
43.
Goal for FC Sion, 0:1 through Benjamin Kololli (Rilind Nivokazi)
Benjamin Kololli
Midfielder
Assist: Rilind Nivokazi
Striker
38.
Yellow card FC Sion
Kreshnik Hajrizi
31.
Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Carlo Boukhalfa
29.
Yellow card FC St.Gallen
Alessandro Vogt
27.
Yellow card FC Sion
Rilind Nivokazi
24.
Yellow card FC Sion
Ali Kabacalman
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