Update: this version corrects the title of the final from Swiss Football Championship to Swiss Football Cup. Two different tournaments.

GENEVA, Switzerland — FC Basel has beat the lionhearted FC Sion 3-0 earning their 12th Swiss Football Cup. Sion broke its streak of winning each final for which it had qualified. Both teams had a lot to prove but the game ultimately tilted in favor of the German-speaking Swiss football club over the romande. 

The first half of the game lacked rhythm and goals; all three were scored in the last 45 minutes.

The first goal came a minute after the start of the second half. It was executed by FC Basel’s captain, Matias Delgado (seen below), an Argentinian who returned to the Swiss team in 2013.

From that moment on, Sion just ran out of steam.

The second goal came at the 62nd minute courtesy of Ivorian footballer, Adama Traoré.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUhTEPijQLa/

Sion missed several opportunities and lacking definition only encouraged further counter-attacks. So much so, that RTS broadcasters said the game was closer to a 3-0 than a 2-1. They were right.

A final mistake at the 89th minute, sealed the deal. Michael Lang, the Lang Lang, as he is known, topped the cake.

The only score that Sion was able to share was a 3-2. Three yellow cards for Basel, two for Sion.

This is Sion’s first loss at a final. Before today, Sion had reached 13 finals winning all of them.

Bernard Heusler, president of the Basel football club congratulated Sion. “They are a great team with a good record. I have a great deal of respect for the Valais, for its team,” he said to RTS. That respect comes from their defeat just two years ago, when FC Sion beat Basel 3-0.

Christian Constantin, president of the Sion football club said he was disappointed with the result but thought his team had played a good match.

On Twitter, the club thanked the fans and promised to come back.

Police are “vigilant”

Cars and transit are restricted near the stadium until 22:00. After the game, streets near the Gare came to a standstill while fans made their way to the train station.

Police were “vigilant” as fans returned to Cornavin, closing streets, and patrolling from air and ground. About 20,000 fans came and left Geneva in a matter of hours, forcing the closing of several streets (find previous blog post here).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUg_sx1hyIQ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUg-0Erjk46/

Find All About Geneva (The Genevist) on Facebook where we post news from other blogs and news sites. We are also  on Twitter with news from Geneva and beyond . To receive our posts via email, kindly subscribe at the bottom of the page.