No victory, but good approaches at FC Zurich
There are things whose explanations remain forever hidden. And there are things that are so obvious that no further explanation is needed. The fact that things don’t fit between FC Zurich and Franco Foda belongs in the second category. This was revealed by almost every match that FCZ completed under Foda. And that was particularly evident in the first game after the hapless German’s admission, which patient President Ancillo Canepa had held on to for an astounding eight lackluster and winless league games.
In the first of two games under interim coach Genesio Colatrella, FCZ again went without a win. However, the team, which had only selectively changed, presented itself very differently from under Foda – a bit as if they had relieved themselves of a heavy burden and recalled the virtues of the splendid last season, at least for long stretches: they seemed lively and motivated, played light-footedly, dynamically and courageously. “We haven’t often played so offensively and created so many chances this season,” said Blerim Dzemaili meaningfully.
There wasn’t too much missing and FCZ would have won in the last few minutes thanks to substitute Ivan Santini. Apart from the fact that Santini was just offside, the header hit the post. So after the goals of Antonio Marchesano (14th minute) and Bendeguz Bolla (49th) it remained at a fair 1:1, which the city of Zurich can at least book as a “step in the right direction” (Yanick Brecher).
Antonio Marchesano gave FCZ the lead after 14 minutes after a counterattack and with the support of the badly positioned GC defense team on a pass from Aiyegun Tosin. It was the attacking player’s first goal of the season, who had scored 13 times in the previous season. More offensive scenes followed, but not more FCZ goals – partly because Tosin’s long-range volley just missed the goal and GC’s (substitute) keeper Justin Hammel was there when Tosin tried to dupe him between his braces.
It took a stroke of genius for the Grasshoppers, who were better placed in the second half, to equalize. Bolla flicked the ball from outside the edge of the penalty area and from a slightly sloping position into a near high corner. Yanick Brecher prevented a second GC goal by being there in front of Filipe De Carvalho in a dangerous attack.
FCZ got two points under Foda in eight games. At least there was one for the dedicated performance in the rainy 279th Zurich derby with the Grasshoppers, who are ten points ahead of their rivals in the table.
Locusts – Zurich 1: 1 (0: 1)
16,794 spectators. – SR Ensign. – Goals: 14. Marchesano (Tosin) 0:1. 49. Bolla (Morandi) 1-1.
locusts: mutton; Ribeiro, Margreitter, Li (46. Abrashi); Ndenge; Bolla, Pusic (75th De Carvalho), Kawabe (75th Herc), Schmid; Morandi (89 Shabani), Dadashov (84 Schettine).
Zurich: crusher; Kamberi, Kryeziu, Aliti; Boranijasevic, Dzemaili, Selnaes, Guerrero; Krasniqi (84th Santini); Marchesano, Tosin (Vyunnyk 68).
Notes: Grasshoppers without Loosli, Seko (both suspended), Hoxha, Kacuri, Momoh and Moreira (all injured). Zurich without Okita (suspended), Omeragic, Reichmuth and Sauter (all injured). Warnings: 19. Bolla (foul). 42. Li (foul). 42. Aliti (Reclaiming). 47 Ribeiro (foul). 53. Dadashow (foul/banned in the next game). 69. Dzemaili (foul). 90. Santini (foul).
The other games from the weekend. Saturday: Basel – St. Gallen 3: 2 (2: 1). – Sunday: Sion – Winterthur 14.15. Lugano – napkin 16.30. Lucerne – boys 16.30.
Ranking: 1. Young Boys 8/17 (20:4). 2. Napkin 8/17 (11:7). 3. St Gallen 9/15 (18:13). 4.Sion 14.8. (12:11). 5. Locusts 9/13 (15:16). 6. Basel 8/12 (15:11). 7. Lucerne 7/11 (12:8). 8. Lugano 8/9 (14:15). 9. Zurich 9/3 (7:20). 10. Winterthur 8/2 (4:23).