Champions Sankt Gallen shocked as new football season opens
Last year's football champions, Sankt Gallen, suffered a surprise defeat on the opening day of the new season, losing one-nil to newly promoted Lugano on Saturday. The exploit of the day was by Basel's Jean-Michel Tchouga who scored four goals.
Sankt Gallen had been hoping to continue where they left off a few weeks ago. But they fell to a Gimenez goal in the 32nd minute in Lugano.
The eastern Swiss side were the only one of the four clubs, tipped to have a real title chance this season, to have lost on the opening day.
One of the other likely title candidates, Basel – who finished runners-up last season – had their new striker Tchouga to thank for all their goals in their emphatic 4-1 home victory over Sion.
Grasshoppers Zurich got off to a good start with a 3-0 home win over Lausanne with two of the goals coming from striker Efan Ekoku.
Aother title hopeful got off to a winning start: Servette Geneva came back from being a goal down to win 2-1 against Aarau. In the other National League A match, Yverdon drew with newly promoted FC Zurich 1-1.
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