Stade Lausanne-Ouchy surprise GC and reach the cup final for the first time

Stade Lausanne-Ouchy spring a surprise against record winners GC

Keystone

Stade Lausanne-Ouchy become the tenth team from a lower division to reach the Swiss Cup final. The Vaud side from the Challenge League beat Grasshoppers 2:0 at home in the semi-final.

Keystone-SDA

18.04.2026, 21:23•18.04.2026, 21:27

In its first ever Cup semi-final, Stade Lausanne-Ouchy played without complexes. The fourth-placed team in the Challenge League earned the goals in the 52nd and 90th minutes with a courageous performance. The outsiders outplayed GC on the Pontaise and had the better chances to score. The crowning moment was beautiful to watch: French winger Landry Nomel moved from the left flank towards the center shortly after the break and hit the crossbar perfectly from the edge of the penalty area. Vasco Tritten made it 2:0 from a direct corner kick.

GC, the second-worst team in the current Super League season, disappointed. The Hoppers never managed to play with any conviction. Although they had celebrated an important win against bottom-of-the-table Winterthur last weekend, they seemed inhibited. Coach Gernot Messner's team had the best chance to take the lead in the 35th minute when Sven Köhler's header hit the crossbar. The aluminum goal was a sign of GC's improved performance after a weak start.

Surprisingly, the favorites allowed themselves to be forced back onto the defensive after the break and were inexplicably passive. The 0:1 was the logical consequence. Even with their backs to the wall, there was no great awakening for Zurich. Stade Lausanne-Ouchy continued to have the better of the action, and also had one more player on the pitch in the final phase. Köhler was shown the red card in the 83rd minute for an emergency brake.

Third Super League club defeated

Stade Lausanne-Ouchy will contest the cup final against league rivals Yverdon or St. Gallen in the Wankdorf on Whitsun Sunday, May 24, and will attempt to become only the second lower league club after Sion in 2006 to lift the trophy. A major triumph would be well deserved in view of Lausanne's impressive course. After Winterthur and Lucerne, GC were the third Super League club to be beaten by SLO in this cup season. The last time a club from a lower division achieved the same feat was 23 years ago.

GC, on the other hand, must now focus entirely on their mission to stay in the league. That will not be easy. This was made clear by the reaction of the many fans who had traveled with them after the 2-0 defeat. Some of them stormed onto the pitch, others threw flares in the direction of the stewards. GC's nerves are likely to be on edge for a while.