The 100th Swiss Cup has so far brought no luck to the lower-ranked teams. At the start of the second main round, GC are not to be denied by Challenge League leaders Thun and Sion and Yverdon.
At least in the Cup, the Grasshoppers are occasionally able to enjoy a sense of achievement. The Zurich side, who are third from bottom in the championship with just one win from six games, mastered the tricky task at FC Thun in a lacklustre but efficient manner. The Bernese Oberlanders dominated the game for the most part, but were unable to score anything worthwhile. The decisive goal was scored by German GC newcomer Sonny Kittel after just over half an hour.
Thun initially did a lot to avenge their narrow defeat in the barrage for promotion against GC. After just three minutes, Tresor Samba failed to beat Zurich goalkeeper Justin Hammel from close range. However, this was to remain the best chance. At the other end, the first shot on goal hit the back of Thun goalkeeper Nino Ziswiler. Kittel took advantage of a long, high cross from the Swede Noah Persson in his first appearance for GC with an impressive direct shot.
GC then held on to their lead. Eight minutes before the end, Nikolas Muci made it 2-0 after a counter-attack and took the tension out of the game. The result was the first defeat in the eighth serious match of the season for Thun, who were too harmless in attack.
Sion and Yverdon also progress
FC Sion also made no bones about it. At Zurich's Juchhof, Frenchman Théo Bouchlarhem (27) and Kevin Bua (56) scored from the penalty spot to secure a comfortable 2-0 win at first division side YF Juventus.
Yverdon-Sport, who got off to a similarly poor start in the Super League as GC, experienced a horror start in Emmen. Defender Marc Koch scored in the 3rd minute for the interregional second division club. However, Mitchy Ntelo and Hugo Komano turned the tide for the Vaud side before the break.
Telegrams:
Thun (ChL) - Grasshoppers 0:2 (0:1). - SR Wolfensberger. - Goals: 34. Kittel 0:1. 83. Muci 0:2.
Emmen (2nd int.) - Yverdon 1:2 (1:2). SR Schärli. - Goals: 3 Koch 1:0. 10 Ntelo 1:1. 36 Komano 1:2.
YF Juventus (1st) - Sion 0:2 (0:1). - SR Von Mandach. - Goals: 27 Bouchlarhem 0:1. 56 Bua (penalty) 0:2.
Monthey (1st) - Etoile Carouge (ChL) 0:2 (0:2). SR Sanli. - Goals: 28 Ferrier 0:1. 44 Correia 0:2.
Thun vs GC: The live ticker to read afterwards
FC Thun
Grasshopper Club Zurich
- (34.) 0:1 - Sonny Kittel
- (83.) 0:2 - Nikolas Muci
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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90.
The game is over - GC beat Thun and advance to the last 16 of the Cup!
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90.
It gets heated - Thun have five minutes of stoppage time left
After an unsightly tackle by Thun's Montolio, Schürpf gets terribly upset. Both players are yellow-carded. Thun have five minutes of stoppage time left to make up the two-goal deficit.
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83.
Muci makes it 0:2 - the decider?
Thun throw everything forward, giving GC space for counter-attacks. Muci finished off one of these with ice-cold precision around 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute to make it 0:2.
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76.
Montolio's header flies over the goal
After a long time, it's dangerous in front of the GC goal again. Montolio fails to get his header on target from close range. The final quarter of an hour has begun.
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73.
Lustrinelli makes another double substitution
Castroman and Balaruban come on for Reichmuth and Franke.
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72.
Change for GC
Lee has to come off and is replaced by Muci.
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65.
Lustrinelli makes two changes
First change for the home team: Rastoder and Meichtry come on for Matoshi and Samba.
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58.
Thun's Reichmuth tests Hammel
The eye-catching Thun player breaks free on the edge of the penalty area and flicks the ball towards goal. Hammel dives into the corner and saves.
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55.
GC manages the narrow lead
The visitors concentrate on defending and wait for counter-attacks. Thun look for the gap, but have yet to find it.
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46.
The game continues - can Thun find a way back?
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45.
Break in Thun
The first half is history. GC go into the break with a narrow lead.
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43.
Thun almost equalize
It then becomes dangerous at the other end after a corner kick. Fehr delivers the ball into the center, where Gutbub heads past the goal from a few meters out.
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41.
Decarli misses the second goal for GC
GC almost extend their lead after a corner kick. After a header from Ndenge, the advanced Decarli gets to the ball but fails to put it in the net from point-blank range.
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34.
Goal for GC! Kittel puts the visitors ahead
After a picture-book counter-attack via Morandi and Lee, Persson crosses the ball to Sonny Kittel, who volleys home to give the visitors the lead.
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33.
Tobers saves against Samba
Samba is sent on his way down the left and tries to overrun Tobers. The defender stays on his toes and slides into the striker's shot.
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29.
GC's first goal
The visitors then show themselves on the offensive for once. After Thun lose the ball on the halfway line, the ball quickly goes the other way. Lee takes a shot, but the ball is deflected out of play.
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24.
Reichmuth tries his luck from long range
GC goalie Hammel does not hit the ball as desired, Reichmuth takes over and tries from long range. But Hammel is able to rush back in time and save.
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19.
Schmitz is cautioned
Yellow card for Benno Schmitz. The GC newcomer hits Bürki with his foot and is cautioned.
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11.
Thun with a clear advantage in the opening phase
The home team are in control of the game against the top-flight side and mostly have possession of the ball. When will GC find their stride?
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4.
First chance for Thun - Hammel on the spot
The home team sniff at an early opening goal. After a cross from the right, Tresor Samba gets to the ball and almost manages to tip it into the goal. But GC goalkeeper Justin Hammel is on the spot.
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0.
All set - it's about to start
The teams are on the pitch and the sides have been drawn. The Cup round of 16 between Thun and GC is about to get underway.
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0.
The line-ups are here
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0.
Will Thun get revenge for the barrage defeat?
Thun and Grasshoppers face off in the last 16 of the Cup on Friday. The Challenge League leaders will be looking to give the record champions and cup winners a leg up in front of their home crowd in the Bernese Oberland and take revenge for their barrage defeat. In last year's Cup campaign, both teams were eliminated in the second round. Thun lost to FC Luzern in extra time, while Grasshoppers lost 3-0 to FC Sion, who were in the Challenge League at the time.
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0.
Hello ...
... and welcome to the live ticker for the Cup match between Thun and GC. Kick-off in the Bernese Oberland is at 8pm, you can follow the match live here.
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90.+9.End of 2nd half
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90.+3.Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Maksim Paskotsi
Defender
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90.+3.Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich
Amir Abrashi
Midfielder
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90.Yellow card FC Thun
Genis Montolio
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90.Yellow card Grasshopper Club Zurich
Pascal Schürpf
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88.Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Filipe de Carvalho Ferreira
Midfielder
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88.Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich
Giotto Morandi
Striker
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88.Yellow card FC Thun
Leonardo Bertone
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88.Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Pascal Schürpf
Midfielder
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88.Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich
Sonny Kittel
Striker
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83.Goal for Grasshopper Club Zurich, 0:2 through Nikolas Muci
Nikolas Muci
Striker
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83.Substitution in FC Thun
Declan Frith
Striker
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83.Substitution out FC Thun
Justin Roth
Midfielder
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72.Substitution in FC Thun
Ashvin Balaruban
Defender
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72.Substitution out FC Thun
Dominik Franke
Defender
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72.Substitution in FC Thun
Miguel Castroman
Midfielder
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72.Substitution out FC Thun
Nils Reichmuth
Striker
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72.Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Nikolas Muci
Striker
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72.Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich
Lee Young Joon
Striker
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69.Yellow card FC Thun
Fabio Fehr
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65.Substitution in FC Thun
Franz-Ethan Meichtry
Midfielder
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65.Substitution out FC Thun
Valmir Matoshi
Midfielder
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65.Substitution in FC Thun
Elmin Rastoder
Striker
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65.Substitution out FC Thun
Tresor Samba
Striker
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+3.End of 1st half
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39.Yellow card Grasshopper Club Zurich
Giotto Morandi
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34.Goal for Grasshopper Club Zurich, 0:1 through Sonny Kittel
Sonny Kittel
Striker
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19.Yellow card Grasshopper Club Zurich
Benno Schmitz
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1.Start of the match