Zurich – Lucerne 0-0 – FC Zurich is still waiting for its first goal after the second league game of the season. The champion comes a week after the 0: 4 against YB at home against Lucerne only to a goalless draw.
There is still a lot of work for the new coach Franco Foda to do before FCZ can once again resemble the team that performed so enthusiastically last season. In the first home game of the season in front of just over 12,000 spectators, the new edition lacked the momentum, ideas and determination to secure the three points. The Zurich team had the best chance with two headers in the first half hour.
The changes in the second half didn’t bring the necessary impetus either, even if the new striker Ivan Santini, who was used for a longer period, showed good approaches. The bottom line is that the FCZ did not do enough. After two championship games and the European Cup game away against Karabakh (2:3) on Tuesday, he has two defeats and a draw under his belt.
Lucerne with two aluminum hits
After conceding seven goals in their first two appearances, FCZ kept a clean sheet. This was partly due to goalie Yanick Brecher, who parried a shot from Mohamed Dräger in the final minutes, and partly to luck with aluminum. Once Brecher unintentionally and awkwardly steered a corner ball to his own post, after which Joaquim Ardaiz, the Challenge League top scorer who came from Schaffhausen, only hit the crossbar for the FCL.
Lucerne, who are more convincing in their offensive actions, will struggle with one or the other game situation despite the good result for them at the start of the season (they were not in action in the first round): with Ardaiz’s missed header chance from five meters, the renewed injury by Pascal Schürpf and the late yellow-red card against Captain Ardon Jashari.
While Lucerne is now on a two-week break before the next game, FC Zurich will be back on Wednesday with the second leg of the second qualifying round of the Champions League at home against Karabakh. Then a win is a must.
Telegram:
Zurich – Lucerne 0-0
12,905 spectators. – SR Schärer.
Zurich: Brecher; Boranijasevic, Checker, Mets, Warrior; Gogia (57. Santini), Count, Seiler (70. Zemaili), Okita (53. Gnonto); Marchesano (70. Krasniqi), Tosin (53. Rohner).
Luzern: Müller; Dorn, Burch, Simani, Frydek; Ndiaye (46. Schürpf/62. Dräger), Beloko, Jashari, Abubakar; Sorgic (46. Campo), Ardaiz (74. Kadak).
Notes: Zurich without Omeragic (injured). Lucerne without Loretz (injured). 35. Brecher involuntarily directs the ball to his own post. 51. Ardaiz’s header hits the crossbar. 91. Yellow-red card against Jasari. Bookings: 44. Jashari (foul). 85. Dzemaili (foul). 90. Beloko (foul). 91. Müller (complaining).
–
