The Swiss Cup can be magical, it can also be cruel. FC Diaspora had bitter experience on Saturday evening at La Blancherie. The Jurassians lost 3-2 against Neuchâtel Xamax in the 32nd finals in front of some 1,200 spectators. Faced with the training of Challenge League, the 2nd league team led twice to the scoring! First thanks to Bilel Badre in the 6th minute of play which, with a brilliant strike of more than 30 meters to lobed the opposing goalkeeper. “We gave everything, we pleased our loved ones and ourselves,” reacts the scorer. Combative, organized and united, the men of Armend Gashi were however caught by the Neuchâtels just before the break. An Xamaxian free kick was deflected by a player in the wall in the penalty area. Koro Kone transformed the penalty in the 44th to offer a first frustration to Diaspora … and that was not going to be the only one of the evening.
In the second half, the Eagles again found the resources to run in mind. Following a high recovery from Steven Crolet, Qeldit Gaxherri wrapped his shot in a masterful way in the 60th to bypass the Neuchâtel goalkeeper and find the small opposite net. This followed long minutes of suffering against Xamaxians back to the wall. The captain of diaspora Pascal Lachat also salutes the fighting spirit of his team: “We showed that we were very strong in duels and we were able to play our football”.
Crucified at the end
Then come the last minutes of the match. Diaspora is close to the feat and Xamax of a stinging humiliation. But fresh men were able to make a difference for the training of a League challenge. First, Noah Streit pierced the fillets at close range to equalize at the 90+6th minute. Annoyed by this late and critical goal of the referee, Bilel Badre was excluded for a second warning. But the worst was to come for the Jurassians. “Football is from the first to the hundredth minute. We must remain focused and lucid, ”analyzes the coach Armend Gashi who suffered the catastrophe scenario of the end of the match.
Because in an additional time long as a day without bread, Shkelqim Demhasaj, also entered during the game, managed a victorious head after an additional 11 minutes! The sky fell on the head of diaspora and the Neuchâtel were able to blow a big blow. “I am not at all proud of our performance,” says Yoan Epitals. The Jura central defender of Xamax retains the qualification obtained in front of an opponent “who put all his heart in this match. But despite the elimination, the eagles achieved a performance of the very first choice and made Neuchâtel Xamax doubt until the last seconds of this 32nd final of the Swiss Cup. /nmy
