FC Sion celebrated their first home win in six months in Mario Balotelli’s Super League debut. Giovanni Sio decided the game against FC Basel with a late goal in favor of the Valais.
The winning goal scorer and the newcomer: the vice attackers Giovanni Sio (left) and Mario Balotelli celebrate after the 2-1.
(sda) On Wednesday evening, Balotelli’s move to FC Sion was completed 90 seconds before the end of the transfer. Three days later, the 32-year-old Italian top scorer at the 2012 European Championship came as a joker in the 65th minute for his Super League debut – accompanied by loud applause from the Sitten supporters in the tourbillon, which was packed with 11,800 spectators.
Balotelli has yet to score his first goal; The striker, who was cautioned for complaining in added time, had his best moment when he could only be stopped with a foul by Arnau Comas in the 88th minute and Marwin Hitz saved his following free kick. But he apparently gave his team a boost. Two other jokers from coach Paolo Tramezzani then stabbed: Kevin Bua crossed into the penalty area in the 89th minute, Giovanni Sio sent the ball into the goal with an acrobatic move.
With the third win from the last 23 home duels with Basel, Sion ended his winlessness in the Tourbillon after six months. Before Balotelli came on, both teams had scored from corners. After 15 minutes Filip Stojilkovic converted a cross from Anto Grgic deflected by Denis Poha into the goal, after 55 minutes Wouter Burger headed in a cross from Fabian Frei to equalize.
Heinz Lindner, who switched from Basel to Sion this season, had nothing to do with his former club for a long time. Only in the 44th minute did FCB get their first shot when Zeki Amdouni misplaced a header.
Sion – Basel 2: 1 (1:0). 11 800 spectators. – Referee: Ensign. – Gates: 17 Stojilkovic 1-0. 55. Burgers 1-1. 89. Sio 2:1. – manners: Lindner; Lavanchy, Cavaré, Saintini, Baltazar (92nd blacksmith); Araz, Grgic, Poha; Itaitinga (Sio 79), Stojilkovic (Balotelli 65), Chouaref (Bua 79). – Basel: heat; Lang, Comas, Adams, Pelmard; Frei, Burger (79 Augustine); Ndoye, Amdouni (46th Diouf), Millar (71st Males); Zeqiri (71st Szalai). – Sitten without Cyprien and Moubandje (both injured). Basel without Kade (injured). 65th debut of Balotelli for Sion. Bookings: 19. Baltazar (foul). 50. Long (foul). 62. Burger (foul). 87 Comas (foul). 88. Tramezzani (complaint/coach Sion). 92. Bua (foul). 93. Balotelli (complaint).