Cruel disappointment for the Servette! In 23 months, the Garnets have lost two Swiss Cup semi-finals at home. Beaten 1-0 by St-Gall on May 5, 2021, Alain Geiger’s team this time lost 5-3 on penalties to Lugano. Holders of the trophy, the Ticino will challenge Young Boys in an unprecedented final on June 4 at the Wankdorf.
The unfortunate hero of the evening is called Kevin Mbabu. The international was the only one not to convert his penalty during the penalty shootout. Fourth striker, the side did not find the frame. Opposite, the 5 Luganese shooters adjusted Jérémy Frick with composure. The great regret for the Garnets is undoubtedly this golden opportunity at the feet of Patrick Pflücke in extra time.
This outcome is cruel for Alain Geiger and deprives the Valaisan of a royal outing he dreamed of at the end of his 5-season term. It is just as important for the club which has not played in the Cup final for 22 years. This wait becomes almost unbearable for supporters, who struggle to read the policy of their leaders marked by the “sacrifice” of 3 emblematic figures of the club, president Pascal Besnard, sports director Philippe Senderos and coach Alain Geiger.
An equalizer out of nowhere
Enzo Crivelli miraculously snatched extra time following extra time. Coming out of nowhere, his goal for the 2-2 in the 96th minute, however, responded to a certain moral. Superior in all areas, the Luganese made the immense mistake of playing the clock far too early with a consummate art that Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid would not deny.
Between Derek Kutesa’s opener in the 21st minute and Crivelli’s goal, the Servettians hardly worried goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe. The double scored in 9 minutes – 31st and 40th – by Ignacio Aliseda was to reward a team which played the best football and which knew how to exploit the often gaping flaws in the Geneva defense. The luck of the Grenat was the lack of resolution of the Luganese in the 1st quarter of the 2nd period, the moment when they should have closed the case.
ats/bur
