Already in the starting minutes, both teams played cheerfully forward. After just 5 minutes the ball hit the net for the first time. Olivier Custodio hit a corner at the front post, where Fousseni Diabaté pushed the ball over the line. Referee Luca Cibelli immediately disallowed the goal because the ball was probably completely behind the goal line when it was crossed.
Just one turn of the hand later, things became really dangerous for the first time in front of the other goal. Lausanne goalkeeper Karlo Letica had to let Fabian Frei’s long-range attempt bounce back. Thierno Barry came from the best position to take a follow-up shot, but missed the goal. The Frenchman was offside when his teammate fired the shot anyway.
Free twice as bad luck
In the 32nd minute, things became dangerous again in the Basel penalty area after a corner. The visitors couldn’t get the ball away, but Lausanne couldn’t capitalize on it. The Basel reaction followed immediately again. In the direct counterattack, Frei failed after a nice attack and the cross from Dominik Schmid at the left post.
Both teams continued to look for a way forward in the second half, but both offensive departments remained unlucky. In the 64th minute, Barry, who had scored eight times in the last 10 games, scored what was supposed to be the opening goal, but the Frenchman was once again offside.
Just a little later it was Frei again, checking the goal anchoring for the second time that evening. His long-range shot hit the crossbar and from there back into the field. In between, Marwin Hitz was able to distinguish himself in the Basel goal when he directed Morgan Poaty’s powerful shot over the goal.
Descent is probably no longer an issue
It remained a goalless draw until the end, which both teams could probably live with. Basel remains in 9th place, one point ahead of the Vaudois team. The lead over GC and the Barrage place is still 7 and 8 points respectively with 3 games remaining and seems comfortable since the Zurich team had to accept a late equalizer in Lucerne.
This is how it continues
Next week there are two rounds of the relegation round on the program. FCB welcomes bottom team Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy on Tuesday and visits GC on Saturday. Meanwhile, Lausanne Sport can stay on Lake Geneva. There is a home game against Lucerne on Wednesday and the city derby at SLO on Saturday.