GC holds its nerve in the barrage and prevails against Aarau. After a 4-0 win in the first leg, a 1-0 defeat at the Brügglifeld was enough for the Hoppers to stay in the Super League.
The fact that there was never any tension in the sold-out Brügglifeld is to the credit of the Grasshoppers. The team led by captain Amir Abrashi mastered the task in the barrage second leg in the face of the large reserves. The visitors were in control at almost all times and never had to worry about their place in the Super League. The winning goal by Linus Obexer in the 82nd minute was above all the just reward for the fighting spirit of the FCA and for the 8450 spectators, who ensured a consistently good atmosphere.
FC Aarau do not have much to reproach themselves for after 120 minutes against the Super League's penultimate team. The difference in quality between the two teams was too great. It was most impressive in the first half of the first leg, when GC attacked with full force. After that, the record champions were mostly concerned with keeping their opponents and the game under control. The way coach Tomas Oral had set up his team, including in terms of fighting spirit, was remarkable.
Too little from Aarau's offense
Even with the 4-0 lead behind them, there was no let-up for a long time. GC played at a reduced tempo in Aarau, but not hesitantly. The duels were fought hard and the offense was sought with the necessary caution. The best chances belonged to the Zurich team up to 0:1, including a shot off the post by Dirk Abels. It was only late on that GC got a little off the pace and had to survive a few tricky situations in front of their own goal.
Right from the start, Aarau sought the most direct route to Justin Hammel's goal with high balls. The GC goalkeeper had his most important action after 13 minutes when Aarau striker Elias Filet, who had been promoted to the starting line-up, failed to beat him solo. It then took until almost the final quarter of an hour for the next notable Aarau attacking wave to roll in. Before Obexer's goal, Raul Bobadilla and Nikola Gjorgjev had narrowly missed the GC goal.
11th season in a row in the second tier
The 1:0 with the successful final offensive in the second leg, which was interrupted twice due to smoke from fireworks, cannot hide the fact that Aarau lacked a lot to end their suffering in the Challenge League. Long regarded as "un-relegatable", Aarau, who miraculously resisted falling into the second tier for years until 2010, will start their eleventh Challenge League season in a row at the end of July. Since their relegation in 2010, FCA have only played in the Super League for two seasons.
Comments on the game
Telegram
Aarau - Grasshoppers 1:0 (0:0)
8450 spectators. - SR Schärer - Goal: 82nd Obexer 1:0.
Aarau: Hübel; Müller, Acquah, Thaler; Kessler (58. Odutayo), Bahloul, Fofana (95. Toure), Dickenmann (42. Obexer); Fazliu; Koide (46. Gjorgjev), Filet (58. Bobadilla).
Grasshoppers: Hammel; Seko, Abels, Paskotsi; Abrashi (60. Decarli; 90. Ndenge); Schmitz, Verón Lupi (81. Kittel), Meyer, Persson; Muci (81. Turhan), Irankunda (81. Schürpf).
Remarks: Cautions: 21st Seko, 37th Irankunda, 45th Filet, 78th Muci, 100th Schmitz, 103rd Kittel, 103rd Obexer.
Video ticker
FC Aarau
Grasshopper Club Zurich
- Linus Obexer - 1:0 (82.)
-
Liveticker
-
Liveticker closed
-
82.
Obexer gives Aarau the lead
-
77.
Gjorgjev misses the mega chance to give Aarau the lead
-
73.
Bobadilla has no luck with his overhead kick
-
72.
Irankunda misses the final decision
-
46.
GC fans delay restart with pyro show
-
18.
Abels hits the post - Aarau in luck
-
13.
Hammel saves GC from going behind
-
8.
Hübel defuses first warning shot
-
0.
Aarau fans believe in a turnaround: "Anything is possible at Brügglifeld"
-
0.
What Aarau coach Iacopetta says ahead of the second leg
-
0.
Marco Thaler: "The Brügglifeld will be on fire"
-
0.
The highlights of the first leg
-
90.+14.End of 2nd half
-
90.+13.Yellow card FC Aarau
Linus Obexer
-
90.+13.Yellow card Grasshopper Club Zurich
Sonny Kittel
-
90.+11.Yellow card Grasshopper Club Zurich
Benno Schmitz
-
90.+5.Substitution in FC Aarau
Yannick Toure
Striker
-
90.+5.Substitution out FC Aarau
Mamadou Fofana
Midfielder
-
90.Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Tsiy-William Ndenge
Midfielder
-
90.Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich
Saulo Decarli
Defender
-
82.Goal for FC Aarau, 1:0 through Linus Obexer
Linus Obexer
Defender
-
81.Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Sonny Kittel
Midfielder
-
81.Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich
Tomas Veron
Midfielder
-
81.Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Tugra Turhan
Striker
-
81.Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich
Nikolas Muci
Striker
-
81.Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Pascal Schürpf
Midfielder
-
81.Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich
Nestory Irankunda
Striker
-
78.Yellow card Grasshopper Club Zurich
Nikolas Muci
-
60.Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Saulo Decarli
Defender
-
60.Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich
Amir Abrashi
Midfielder
-
58.Substitution in FC Aarau
Colin Odutayo
Striker
-
58.Substitution out FC Aarau
Ryan Kessler
Midfielder
-
58.Substitution in FC Aarau
Raúl Bobadilla
Striker
-
58.Substitution out FC Aarau
Elias Filet
Striker
-
46.Substitution in FC Aarau
Nikola Gjorgjev
Midfielder
-
46.Substitution out FC Aarau
Henri Koide
Striker
-
46.Kick-off 2nd half
-
45.+4.End of 1st half
-
45.+2.Yellow card FC Aarau
Elias Filet
-
42.Substitution in FC Aarau
Linus Obexer
Defender
-
42.Substitution out FC Aarau
Marcin Dickenmann
Midfielder
-
37.Yellow card Grasshopper Club Zurich
Nestory Irankunda
-
21.Yellow card Grasshopper Club Zurich
Ayumu Seko
-
1.Start of the match
