Legend:
No winner in the “small” duel
Servette and Sheriff Tiraspol still have to wait for their first victory.
EPA/DUMITRU DORU
The signs before this duel were clear: for both Servette and Sheriff Tiraspol it was about securing the first points and, if possible, the first victory. Both teams recently suffered painful defeats against AS Roma and Slavia Prague on matchday 2.
Until 10 minutes before the end, Servette had legitimate hopes of the first “threesome” in this Europa League group phase. Geneva had a controlled lead in the Stadionul Sheriff – but only 1-0. Finally, after a through pass from Sheriff’s captain Ricardinho, David Ankeye was completely blank and had no trouble pushing the ball past Jérémy Frick to make it 1-1.
Crivelli is the “man of the first half”
After the first round, things still looked promising from the guests’ perspective. Thanks to a goal from Enzo Crivelli shortly before the half-time whistle, René Weiler’s team were a long way ahead and, apart from a dangerous free kick from Ricardinho, which Frick skillfully parried (39th), they allowed practically nothing.
In a manageable first half characterized by a lot of fight, Crivelli provided the first highlight in the 41st minute: after a slightly deflected cross from Bradley Mazikou, the Frenchman stood where a striker should stand, which is why he just overshot the ball had to press the line.
Legend:
The most noticeable player in the first half
Servette’s Enzo Crivelli after his 1-0.
KEYSTONE/Salvatore Di Nolfi
Servette misses the opportunity to double
After the restart the game went back and forth until the equalizer. However, the “Grenats” had the slightly better opportunities and failed to score the second goal in this phase. Alexis Antunes and substitute Timothé Cognat came closest to making it 2-0.
As the game went on, Servette goalie Frick was needed more and more often, which is why the 1-1 score ultimately didn’t really come as a surprise. In the end, the Genevans have to be happy with the one point because things got tricky twice in injury time in front of their own goal.
In the other game in Group G, AS Roma won solidly 2-0 at home against Slavia Prague thanks to two early goals and remains undisputed at the top of the table.
This is how it goes
For Servette, things continue in quick succession: on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Geneva’s neighbors in the table will host Lucerne, and on the following Thursday Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy awaits in the round of 16 of the Swiss Cup. The 4th group game in the Europa League – at home against Sheriff Tiraspol – is on November 9th.