Defending champions the Zurich Lions moved one step closed to qualifying for the Swiss league play offs on Thursday, despite drawing 3-3 against struggling Rapperswil.

In a repeat performance of last season, the Zurich team were unable to beat their opponents from canton St Gallen in any of their home matches in the league.

The star of Thursday's game was Zurich Lion's Canadian player, Jan Alston, who landed the two final goals.

The Lions, still ranked fifth, now have 43 points, one point less than Fribourg and Zug.

Zug in play-offs

Fourth-placed Zug have now made sure of their place in the end-of-season play-offs although third-place Fribourg are still waiting to be mathematically certain themselves.

Theoretically Lausanne could still lift themselves out of the relegation zone to draw level with either Zug or Fribourg. Because of their inferior record in matches against Lausanne, Fribourg could then find themselves dropping out of championship contention.

The Fribourg players are unlikely to be too concerned, though, since such a scenario could only come true if Fribourg lost all their remaining matches and Lausanne won all theirs.

Following Thursday's match, Rapperswil are almost certainly headed for the relegation playouts.

swissinfo with agencies

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