FC Luzern 1 – YB 2

Another day in Switzerland so hot that the chocolate melted.

The week started well for FC Luzern, the disputed 3 points following the beer throwing incident in the GC game stayed with Luzern. Sorry Mr Sforza, it was a nice try but  shouldn’t you focus on winning games rather than giving your players acting classes?

Hakan Yakin also had a good half hour in the Switzerland – Italy midweek friendly. Yakin came on in the second half and his eye for a good pass was evident.

At roughly the same point of last season YB visited Luzern, at that time FCL had only a single point where YB hadn’t done much better in second to last place. YB then improved over the season and finished  much better clinching a second spot.

This was the situation going into the Sunday game:  Gersag Stadium completely sold out. Visiting Young Boys Bern were in a three point lead ahead of Luzern, second in the table. In addition to this YB had a vastly superior goal difference, scoring an impressive 13 goals in five games.  FCL would have to beat them with 4 goals to go top.

Seven of thirteen YB goals were scored by Ivory Coast player Seydou Doumbia (already linked to Fulham, Dortmund, Hoffenheim, 10M EUR estimate), Luzern really had to stop him to stop YB.

The hill outside the stadium where during the previous games a quite a few fans had been standing for a free peek had now been equipped with a giant curtain making it much harder to watch the game without paying.

Luzern started the game in the best possible way. Paiva, possibly seasons best player who hadn’t yet scored this season does just that with a beautiful lob in the second minute. The whole Zone 2 was rocking. Only three goals and we are top of the league! Yes, it is very easy to get carried away.

Then, following a very good 20 minutes from Luzern,  YB scores on a floating free kick against the run of play. Oh well, here we go again, they are league leaders after all, and a draw isn’t that bad, is it?

Soon after the goal someone, probably the referee, decides that the 30c heat is a bit too much and there is a break in play for drinks.

Young Boys then scores again in the 36thminute this time the goal follows a good period for them so it felt a bit more deserved than their first.

Second half, YB is now attacking towards Zone 2.

Early on Doumbia makes a beautiful dive, he is apparently mortally wounded by the passing Yakin. The referee is not impressed and shows him the yellow card.

Shortly after Doumbia comes forward again, now on YB’s left side.  Zibung races him to the ball and again Doumbia goes down dramatically. The ref points to the penalty spot. Luzern players and fans protests wildly.  This is outrageous, another pathetic dive from this proven cheater. Finally the heroic linesman intervenes. There is no more a penalty and the disgraced Doumbia is sent off.  This is officially the ‘just can’t beat that’ moment of the match.

The rest of the game passes with Luzern playing reasonably well but never truly threatening the YB goal. YB are of course happy with going 6 points clear and just defending the lead.

Since other results went our way we stay second despite the loss.  Next week it’s Zurich away.