Thun hit high note

Thun's Milaim Rama celebrates with the club's supporters Keystone

The footballing minnows of FC Thun have won promotion to Switzerland's top division completing a successful week for the country's underdogs.

The team from the Bernese Oberland celebrated a 1-0 home win over FC Winterthur on Tuesday to seal promotion on the final day of the season.

The victory lifted Thun into the top flight for the first time in 47 years and for only the second time in the club’s 104 year season.

On Saturday fellow minnows FC Wil also made history by clinching top division status for the first time in their 102 years of existence.

For every conquering David there has to be a fallen Goliath and this year it was the turn of Aarau and Lucerne to tumble.

Currently fighting for their financial survival, Lucerne surrendered their place in the top division weeks ago. Aarau’s fate however was only sealed in the last few minutes of the season.

Needing to score one more goal than Thun on Tuesday in order to avoid the drop, Aarau found themselves 2-0 up against league leaders Neuchâtel Xamax with just five minutes remaining.

But a late strike by Xamax started the partying in Thun and ended Aarau’s long series of Houdini acts.

While the fight for places in the top division went all the way to the last thrilling round, matters in the top division itself have long since been wrapped up.

Following FC Basel’s title victory with three matches to spare, Grasshoppers Zurich, Lugano and Servette Geneva have all made sure of places in the UEFA Cup.

The last prize of the season will be awarded on Sunday when Basel and Grasshoppers go head to head in the final of the Swiss Cup.

swissinfo with agencies