Video highlights Desolate FCZ final phase - Sion clinch the opening win after a great turnaround

The Super League championship opener was a tough one. After trailing 2-0, FC Sion turned their away game against FC Zurich around with late goals and won 3-2.

Three summer signings scored in the 81st, 87th and 91st minutes to turn the game around. First, Rilind Nivokazi, last year's top scorer in the Challenge League, scored the equalizer. Josias Lukembila then equalized with a header before Winsley Boteli profited from a mistake by the Zurich goalkeeper and scored into an empty net.

While Sion celebrated their third win in a row against FCZ, the home team and their new coach Mitchell van der Gaag were left to wonder. How could they have squandered such a favorable starting position?

Promising start for FCZ

The start was promising. Steven Zuber kicked off the season with a dream goal in the 27th minute. The 33-year-old took the measure from a good 20 meters and shot the ball right into the high corner of the goal. Former YB goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi, who had returned to the Super League after a year abroad, was powerless to stop him.

The opening goal was deserved in terms of possession and the hosts went one better in the 55th minute. After a pass from Umeh Emmanuel, who had already set up the first goal, 21-year-old Damienus Reverson made it 2-0. Emmanuel had won the ball on the touchline after a mistake by Kreshnik Hajrizi and then passed into the back of the defense.

It was understandable that the Zurich side shifted down a gear after that. That they would completely lose the thread was hardly foreseeable. But the visitors from Valais, who had been outclassed until then, proved ice-cold in the final phase and took home the three points thanks to their final furioso.

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Zurich - Sion 2:3 (1:0)

12'374 spectators. - SR Wolfensberger. - Goals: 27. Zuber (Emmanuel) 1:0. 55. Reverson (Emmanuel) 2:0. 81. Nivokazi (Chouaref) 2:1. 87. Lukembila (Chouaref) 2:2. 91. Boteli 2:3.

Zurich: Brecher; Kamberi, Gómez, Sauter (87. Ihendu), Volken; Zuber, Palacio, Reichmuth (86. Stork); Phaëton (82. Nvendo), Reverson (66. Markelo), Emmanuel (82. Krasniqi).

Sion: Racioppi; Lavanchy, Hajrizi (64. Chipperfield), Kronig, Hefti; Kabacalman (77. Bouchlarhem), Sow; Chouaref, Miranchuk (64. Berdayes), Kololli (64. Lukembila); Nivokazi (85. Boteli).

Cautions: 21 Reichmuth, 54 Kabacalman, 67 Chipperfield.

The video ticker

FC Zurich

Completed

2:3

(1:0)

FC Sion

• Steven Zuber - 1:0 (28.)
• Damienus Reverson - 2:0 (55.)
•  
•  
•  

•  
•  
• (81.) 2:1 - Rilind Nivokazi
• (87.) 2:2 - Josias Lukembila
• (90.+2.) 2:3 - Winsley Boteli

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90. +1.
Brecher and FCZ completely off their game - Boteli gives Sion the lead
87.
Lukembila scores the equalizer for Sion
81.
Strong combination: Nivokazi brings Sion back into the game
55.
Emmanuel serves Reverson - FCZ increase to 2:0
28.
A dream goal to open the scoring: Zuber gives FCZ a remarkable lead
25.
Miranchuk tries from long range and narrowly misses
2.
Racioppi miraculously prevents FCZ from taking an early lead
0.
Zubi: "Sion have positioned themselves well in the goalkeeper position"
0.
FCZ coach Van der Gaag: "The first game is always special"
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The line-ups are here: This is how the teams line up
💫 Die Startelf für das erste Spiel der Saison 25/26 ➡️📄

Verletzt: Ligue, Vujevic#fcz pic.twitter.com/Mk0ZpRlAU6
— FC Zürich (@fc_zuerich) July 25, 2025
👥 𝙇𝙚 𝙓𝙄 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙣

Voici les 1️⃣1️⃣ joueurs retenus par Didier Tholot pour entamer cette saison face au 𝗙𝗖 𝗭𝘂̈𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵. 🔝

🗣 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘇 𝗦𝗶𝗼𝗻 🔴⚪️#Ensemble #Toujours pic.twitter.com/bEX8laFW0K
— FC Sion (@FCSion) July 25, 2025
#
Brecher: "FCZ must be European"
#
FCZ coach van der Gaag: "The coach and the person Mitchell are different"
#
Sion coach Tholot: "Offensively we have a problem"
90.+6.
End of 2nd half
90.+2.
Goal for FC Sion, 2:3 through Winsley Boteli
Winsley Boteli
Striker
87.
Goal for FC Sion, 2:2 through Josias Lukembila (Ilyas Chouaref)
Josias Lukembila
Striker
Assist: Ilyas Chouaref
Midfielder
87.
Substitution in FC Zurich
Daniel Ihendu
Defender
87.
Substitution out FC Zurich
Ilan Sauter
Defender
87.
Substitution in FC Zurich
Gian Stork
Defender
87.
Substitution out FC Zurich
Miguel Reichmuth
Midfielder
86.
Substitution in FC Sion
Winsley Boteli
Striker
86.
Substitution out FC Sion
Rilind Nivokazi
Striker
82.
Substitution in FC Zurich
Vincent Nvendo Ferrier
Striker
82.
Substitution out FC Zurich
Matthias Phaëton
Striker
82.
Substitution in FC Zurich
Bledian Krasniqi
Midfielder
82.
Substitution out FC Zurich
Umeh Emmanuel
Striker
81.
Goal for FC Sion, 2:1 through Rilind Nivokazi (Ilyas Chouaref)
Rilind Nivokazi
Striker
Assist: Ilyas Chouaref
Midfielder
77.
Substitution in FC Sion
Théo Bouchlarhem
Striker
77.
Substitution out FC Sion
Ali Kabacalman
Midfielder
67.
Yellow card FC Sion
Liam Chipperfield
66.
Substitution in FC Zurich

Jahnoah Markelo
Striker
66.
Substitution out FC Zurich
Damienus Reverson
Striker
64.
Substitution in FC Sion
Josias Lukembila
Striker
64.
Substitution out FC Sion
Benjamin Kololli
Midfielder
64.
Substitution in FC Sion
Théo Berdayes
Striker
64.
Substitution out FC Sion

Anton Miranchuk
Midfielder
64.
Substitution in FC Sion
Liam Chipperfield
Midfielder
64.
Substitution out FC Sion
Kreshnik Hajrizi
Defender
55.
Goal for FC Zurich, 2:0 through Damienus Reverson (Umeh Emmanuel)
Damienus Reverson
Striker
Assist: Umeh Emmanuel
Striker
54.
Yellow card FC Sion
Ali Kabacalman
45.+2.
End of 1st half
28.
Goal for FC Zurich, 1:0 through Steven Zuber (Umeh Emmanuel)

Steven Zuber
Midfielder
Assist: Umeh Emmanuel
Striker
21.
Yellow card FC Zurich
Miguel Reichmuth
1.
Start of the match