Basel steal 4-2 win to go top of the class

FC Basel's goalie, Pascal Zuberbühler, celebrates victory with other members of the team Keystone

FC Basel snatched a 4-2 away win over rivals Lausanne Sports on Sunday to take over the football league top spot from Servette Geneva.

Basel’s performance at the Pontaise stadium was all the more impressive because they were without star player, Murat Yakin.

Kreuzer gave the visiting team a welcome lead in the 9th minute courtesy of a well-executed penalty, but the home side quickly fought back to level the score just 60 seconds later.

Basel’s claim on Servette’s crown looked to be fading in the 21st minute, when Simon put Lausanne 2-1 ahead.

But in what soon became clear was going to be a tit-for-tat game, Gimenez hit back to level the score once more.

The tide finally turned when team-mate Hakan Yakin made it 3-2 to the visitors. A second goal from Gimenez in the 42nd sealed the home side’s fate.

While 2450 spectators in Pontaise enjoyed the spectacle of 6 goals in less than 45 minutes, a 7800-strong crowd in Letzigrund spent 90 minutes watching a goalless confrontation between FC Zurich and Bern’s Young Boys.

There was more to be had in the way of goal action at both ends of the pitch over in St Gallen, where the home side succeeded in notching up a 4-3 win over Neuchatel Xamax.

In Saturday’s other games, Servette were held to a 3-3 draw at home to Aarau, while Lugano suffered a 5-0 drubbing in Sion.

Grasshoppers Zurich returned home on Saturday night carrying defeat with them: the fifth-placed side went down 2-1 away to bottom club Lucerne.

swissinfo with agencies