Wednesday 30 October 2024

Euro trip - October 2024 - Part 3 -Switzerland

 Sunday morning- 9am train from Bregenz to Zurich - my planned game at 12am had been changed to 11am kick off, it would be tight- but should make it on time - I did ..by 10 minutes but when I arrived, pitch empty game had been moved back to 12 noon!!


Sunday 27 October 2024
12 noon
Zurich City SC 0 FC Wiedikon ZHH 0
2 Liga Region Zurich Gruppe 1
Sportanlage Neudorf

F & N
Attendance: 75 h/c


The complex is in Oerlikon, next to the Zurich Ice Rink, it has 6 pitches 4 on one side of the road along with a changing room block and café. The main pitch is on the other side of the road next to another grass pitch.


There was another lower level game on the main G3 pitch on the changing room side. By game was on the main grass pitch, railed on one side and seating along one side which included part of it under cover. Dug outs and electric scoreboard on the other side of the pitch.

I was surprised, and pleased to see the game had 3 qualified neutral match officials ... and they were needed.

The game was feisty from the start, a number of yellow cards shown but the Ref kept very cool and did not fall for the gamesmanship, displayed by both sides - with Zurich City being the worst offenders.

In the 74th minute a home player received a second yellow card for diving, I thought this may start a few more scuffles but the game finished with the other 21 players on the pitch, but then it kicked off with one of the Zurich City coaching team getting a red card, one of the subs from Zurich City who had come on with about 20 minutes to also wanting to argue with everyone then a Zurich City supporter, also joined in on the pitch confronting most of the visiting team whilst his partner attempted to drag him back off the pitch!

Great public transport in Zurich, meant I was at my main game with plenty of time to spare, was surprised that not many other fans were on the trams, as the game was 1st v 2nd in the Super League

FC Zurich 1 Servette 3
Swiss Super League
Letzigrund Stadium

Admission: 45 Swiss Francs, print at home
Programme: Free inside the ground - easy to pick up, not many home fans bothering.
Attendance: 16239


Tickets were still on sale at the game, and when I entered the ground with 45 minutes to spare it was still quite empty - in the end the home fans packed the SudKurve and the stand , I was sat in- East stand was full but the expensive seats in the West were empty and Servette had very fabs in attendance- and what a game the away fans missed!


Right from the start of the game they looked the sharper team and no surprise when they took the lead on 32 minutes, thought that might give Zurich the kick up the arse they needed but the second half continued in the same vein, two further goals from Servette and Zurich still lacking a final pass. The Zurich subs made a slight difference and they did get a goal back in the last minute of the game, but a great win for Servette who went top with Zurich dropping to third place.

Great tram times afterwards meant I was back in the city centre in less that 30 minutes after the game ended. Zurich may have been poor on the pitch but the support from the SudKueve was fantastic throughout the game. The stadium looks far more impressive from the outside rather than the view from inside.


Fun part, 10 minutes from the end a Zurich fan left in disgust at the display by his team - but somehow he had unbolted his seat and took it with him!!

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