Final goal comes too late Sion win thanks to Kololli's brace - GC penultimate after defeat

Grasshoppers go into Thursday's final round in second-last place. The Zurich side lost 2-1 away to Sion.

GC coach Tomas Oral fielded the same starting eleven as in the 5-0 home win against Yverdon three days earlier. However, this did not have the desired effect. The visitors' performance in the Tourbillon, which was packed with 12,000 spectators, was poor.

Sion also offered their fans meagre fare in the first half. Benjamin Kololli then put on a show after the break. The Kosovan attacker made it 1-0 in the 56th minute, and four minutes later the 32-year-old made it 2-0 with his ninth brace in the Super League, his second of the season. The 1:0 was preceded by a wonderful pass from Baltazar into the deep, whereupon Numa Lavanchy played the ball to Kolloli at the second post.

GC largely failed to respond, lacking solutions going forward. Tomas Veron Lupi only scored the equalizer in the 95th minute. Before that, Nikolas Muci had the record champions' best chance in the 71st minute, but Lavanchy saved from the goal line for beaten goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu. Following the defeat, Zurich no longer have direct league survival in their own hands. They are now one point behind Winterthur and level on points with bottom-placed Yverdon. GC will face St. Gallen at home in their final game on Thursday.

After the 2-2 draw between Winterthur and Yverdon, it was clear to Sion even before kick-off that they would be playing in the Super League next season. Although the Valais side said goodbye to their fans with a win, they missed out on conceding a late goal to record a clean sheet for the first time in 2025.

Comments on the game

Man of the Match: Benjamin Kololli

"Kololli, who celebrated his 33rd birthday the day before yesterday, gave himself a present in this game and scored twice. The second goal in particular was technically superb." (blue Sport commentator Stefan Flückiger)

Telegram

Sion - Grasshoppers 2:1 (0:0)

12'000 spectators. - SR Piccolo. - Goals: 56. Kololli (Lavanchy) 1:0. 60. Kololli (Chouaref) 2:0. 95. Verón Lupi 2:1.

Sion: Fayulu; Lavanchy, Hajrizi, Sow, Barba; Kabacalman (76. Kronig), Chouaref (76. Djokic), Baltazar Costa; Kololli (67. Kasami), Sorgic (17. Bouriga), Miranchuk (67. Bouchlarhem).

Grasshoppers: Hammel; Abels, Decarli, Seko, Persson; Schmitz (62. Verón Lupi), Abrashi (75. Schürpf), Hassane, Kittel (62. Kabashi); Muci (75. Lee Young-Jun), Bojang (62. Irankunda).

Remarks: 90th red card against Hassane (assault). Cautions: 91st Bouchlarhem, 94th Baltazar Costa.

FC Sion

Completed

2:1

(0:0)

Grasshopper Club Zurich

• Benjamin Kololli - 1:0 (56.)
• Benjamin Kololli - 2:0 (60.)
•  

•  
•  
• (90.+5.) 2:1 - Tomas Veron

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95.
Goal GC 1:2 through Lupi
90.
Hassane sees the red card
71.
Lavanchy saves on the line - Muci misses the follow-up goal
60.
Goal Sion 2:0 through Kololli
56.
Goal Sion 1:0 through Kololli
10.
Chance Chouaref
90.+6.
End of 2nd half
90.+5.
Goal for Grasshopper Club Zurich, 2:1 through Tomas Veron
Tomas Veron
Striker
90.+5.
Yellow card FC Sion
Baltazar
90.+2.
Yellow card FC Sion
Théo Bouchlarhem
90.+2.
Red card Grasshopper Club Zurich (direct)
Imourane Hassane
76.
Substitution in FC Sion
Jan Kronig
Defender
76.
Substitution out FC Sion
Ali Kabacalman
Midfielder
76.
Substitution in FC Sion
Dejan Djokic
Striker
76.
Substitution out FC Sion
Ilyas Chouaref
Midfielder
75.
Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Pascal Schürpf
Midfielder
75.
Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich

Amir Abrashi
Midfielder
75.
Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Lee Young Joon
Striker
75.
Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich
Nikolas Muci
Striker
67.
Substitution in FC Sion

Pajtim Kasami
Midfielder
67.
Substitution out FC Sion
Benjamin Kololli
Striker
67.
Substitution in FC Sion
Théo Bouchlarhem
Midfielder
67.
Substitution out FC Sion

Anton Miranchuk
Striker
62.
Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Nestory Irankunda
Striker
62.
Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich
Adama Bojang
Striker
62.
Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Leart Kabashi
Midfielder
62.
Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich

Sonny Kittel
Midfielder
62.
Substitution in Grasshopper Club Zurich
Tomas Veron
Striker
62.
Substitution out Grasshopper Club Zurich

Benno Schmitz
Midfielder
60.
Goal for FC Sion, 2:0 through Benjamin Kololli (Ilyas Chouaref)
Benjamin Kololli
Striker
Assist: Ilyas Chouaref
Midfielder
56.
Goal for FC Sion, 1:0 through Benjamin Kololli (Numa Lavanchy)
Benjamin Kololli
Striker
Assist: Numa Lavanchy
Defender
46.
Kick-off 2nd half
45.+5.
End of 1st half
17.
Substitution in FC Sion
Mouhsen Bouriga
Striker
17.
Substitution out FC Sion
Dejan Sorgic
Striker
1.
Start of the match

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