FC Zürich lost to Young Boys (YB) 2-1, missing out on the championship group due to a worse goal difference than FC Lausanne-Sport. The match was tense, with a close score and late drama, including a YB shot from midfield that narrowly missed an empty goal in the 97th minute.
While YB wasn't as dominant as in previous seasons, their improved form, linked to the winter signing of Christian Fassnacht, was evident. YB goalkeeper Marvin Keller made crucial saves, frustrating FC Zürich's efforts. FC Zürich's failure to score one more goal proved decisive.
The Swiss Super League's current format, featuring a split into a championship and relegation round, created a tense situation. The game highlighted the league's competitiveness. VAR played a role, overturning a YB goal but correctly awarding FC Zürich a penalty.
The article points to significant internal issues at FC Zürich: • Constant personnel changes; • Unfocused development of young players; • Controversies and unrest. These problems, along with questions about the authority of sports director Milos Malenovic, overshadowed the team's on-field performance, making their failure to reach the championship group not entirely unexpected.
The missed opportunity means FC Zürich will likely face financial difficulties, needing further investment from club president Ancillo Canepa to cover losses. The coach's and sports director's futures are also uncertain.