FC Zurich one point clear at top of table
FC Zurich have brought a weekend of Swiss football league action to a close with a 1-1 away draw to Young Boys which puts them one point clear at the top of the table.
The newly promoted Young Boys, who have already made a good start to the new season, were playing their first game at the Neufeld stadium, the team’s temporary home while the Wankfdorf is rebuilt.
If the Neufeld stadium was new to both teams, it was the Young Boys who quickly made themselves most at home, keeping possession of the ball from the start and not allowing their opponents a chance to take control of the game.
It took only seven minutes for Berisha to knock the ball into the net for the Young Boys and for a while it seemed like Zurich might be going home without a point.
But Pallas responded just eight minutes before half time with an equaliser, which was enough to give his team a single point lead over nearest rivals Sion, Grasshoppers, Lugano and Aarau.
In the weekend’s other domestic football action, defending champions Grasshoppers Zurich beat struggling Lucerne 6-0. All six goals were scored in the second half, with Swiss international Stéphane Chapuisat grabbing a hat-trick.
UEFA Cup hopefuls St Gallen had less to smile about after losing 3-0 away to expected strugglers Neuchâtel Xamax. With goalkeeper Jörg Stiel confined to the bench following the completion of his transfer to Germany’s Borussia Mönchengladbach, the east Swiss side soon found themselves in trouble.
After just 12 minutes, defender Ivan dal Santo was sent off for a professional foul and Xamax took full advantage, with Ensar Arifovic and Alexander Tachie-Mensah sending first half goals past replacement goalie Oliver Stöckli.
A 67th minute own goal from Marc Zellweger all but made sure of a Xamax victory while a second St Gallen sending off, this time for Ivan Stefanovic, at least ensured that Stiel had plenty of company on the bench.
Servette Geneva were fortunate to come away from Aarau with a 1-1 draw, thanks to an equaliser from Nigerian midfielder Wilson Oruma, scored with just three minutes of play remaining.
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