Neuchâtel Xamax was dominated by Zurich’s FC Winterthur 3-1 in the Challenge League football championship. In front of a full Schützenwiese stadium (9,000 spectators), Xamax started the match in the worst possible way by conceding a penalty from the 3e minute for an intervention judged severely faulty by Mr. Kanagasingam, the referee of the meeting. Buess transformed the penalty to give the advantage to the locals. The Neuchâtelois managed to equalize thanks to a superb action from Beloko who launched Ouattara whose cross found the head of Surdez. Unfortunately, the 2-1 was soon to fall on a corner taken from the head by the captain of Winterthur, Lekaj in the 24e minute. After the yellow card collected on the foul which led to the penalty at the start of the game, Ouattara received a second warning for an intervention deemed rough and saw red. Reduced to 10 from 55e minute, the Xamaxiens then faded and conceded 3-1 by Tushi. Despite their good spirits and great fighting spirit, Berisha and his teammates mightn’t do anything. However, coach Andrea Binotto wanted to be positive at the time of analysis.
The Zürichois of Winterthur are for the moment play-offs for the rise in the Super League.
Xamax points to 6e rank in the Challenge League standings one day before the summer break. But for Andrea Binotto it is not necessary to wait for the last meeting to take stock of the season.
The Neuchâtelois will have the opportunity to end the season in style next Saturday at La Maladière once morest FC Wil. It should be noted that this match will mark the end of the careers of the Xamaxiens: Igor Djuric, Laurent Walthert and Mike Gomes. For the occasion, the red and black club invites its fans to come in large numbers to La Maladière.Yca-Dau
Winterthour – Neuchâtel Xamax 3-1 (2-1).
Schützenwiese : 9,000 spectators (boxes sold out)
Arbitrator: Kanagasingam
Buts: 3e Buess (penalty) 1-0. 17e Deafness 1-1. 24e Lekaj 2-1. 79e Tushi 3-1.
Note: 53rd expulsion of Ouattara (Neuchâtel Xamax
Ranking: 1. Aarau 35/65 (66-45). 2. Winterthour 35/62 (71-45). 3. Schaffhouse 35/62 (71-48). 4. Vaduz 35/57 (66-57). 5. Thoune 35/53 (60-56). 6. Neuchâtel Xamax FCS 35/47 (51-52). 7. Lausanne-Ouchy Stadium 35/44 (45-48). 8. Yverdon 35/44 (43-50). 9. Will 35/41 (66-75). 10. Kriens 35/13 (25-88).