Season Showdown

FC Basel triumphed.

2-0 over close rivals Young Boys. 38,015 spectators showed up for the thrilling ending to a very spectacular championship.
Yet the final held very little suspense, since Basel was already 2-0 up after 23 minutes with goals by 19-year old Stocker (a great talent) and Streller.

Christian Gross’ (Basel coach) nightmares following the 2006 draw with Zurich (with a goal at the 93rd minute), with the Championship victory of the latter team, were not renewed.

Young Boys couldn’t fight back for a title they had been waiting for in 22 years. Schneuwly missed two crystal-clear chances in the first 10 minutes giving way to Basel’s triumphal (and unforgiving) lead. Nor could Andermatt (Young Boys coach) count on the likes of Hakan Yakin (24 goals this season) and Haeberli (18).

Basel’s victory granted a UEFA Cup berth to Swiss Cup Finalists Bellinzona (currently second in the Challenge League) instead of 4th placed Grasshoppers Zurich.

Thus Christian Gross will begin next year (his last year as Basel coach) with a promising 3rd round Champions’ League spot where they will certainly not face a big name of European football (like Inter Milan or Werder Bremen in past years).

The final standings are as follows:
1. BASEL 36/74 (Champions’ League)
2. Young Boys 36/70 (UEFA CUP)
3. Zurich 36/56 (UEFA CUP)
4. Grasshoppers 36/54
5. Aarau 36/47
6. Luzern 36/44
7. Sion 36/43
8. Neuchatel Xamax 36/41
——————–
9. St. Gallen 36/34 (will play against the second-placed team in Challenge League)
——————–
10. Thun 36/27 (relegated)

A SUMMARY OF THE GAME IS AVAILABLE HERE: http://www.tsr.ch/tsr/index.html?siteSect=800001&sid=9074750