And then YB lets it rip
The last league game as a reflection of the season: The Young Boys struggled against Winterthur for a long time and still won. And look to a promising future.
Will the second cup follow for Captain Fabian Lustenberger and YB next Sunday in the cup final against Lugano?
Photo: Urs Lindt (Freshfocus)
One YB player after the other makes their way through the yellow and black trellis. This is made up of club employees and deserving players such as Miralem Sulejmani, who has traveled from Belgrade with his son Luca and is celebrated with chants by the Bernese audience.
The Super League season ended more than twenty minutes ago, but nobody is going home this Whit Monday. The stadium is waiting for the trophy to be handed over, including the accompanying Winterthur fans, who are also in a party mood. Your team is 1:2 inferior to YB, but because FC St. Gallen defeated FC Sion 4:0 at the same time, the promoted team remains in 9th place and thus in the league. The Valais have to go to the Barrage, where they meet the third in the Challenge League, Lausanne-Ouchy.
Bringing the championship trophy to jubilation: Miralem Sulejmani with son Luca.
Photo: Urs Lindt (Freshfocus)
At 6:44 p.m., Captain Fabian Lustenberger lifts the championship trophy, golden glitter shoots out of cannons and then falls onto the artificial turf. The Young Boys get 74 points and thus fewer than in the four championship titles in previous years. In the last decade, only one champion has had a worse result than them, that was Basel 2013/14. YB was often not an intoxicating leader, but always solid, mostly sovereign, who was only once not at the top of the table.
But now none of that matters, now the Young Boys celebrate with the trophy, pose for photos and embark on a lap of honor while Queen’s “We Are the Champions” plays. Next Sunday they have the chance to win the double for the third time in the club’s 125-year history in the cup final against Lugano in Wankdorf.
Only one hurdle to the Champions League
And with Inter Milan securing their place in the Champions League in Serie A at the weekend (second-place finalists Manchester City have already done so), It is now certain that the Young Boys will start in the Champions League playoff next August. They will then most likely be seeded against Ferencvaros, Karabakh, Slovan Bratislava and Royal Antwerp. They are equal competitors. So it is already clear that YB is at least in the group stage of the Europa League.
YB is successful again, YB is looking at a promising future, YB is mobilizing: Wankdorf is also sold out against Winterthur, in 9 of 18 league home games it was like that – resulting in an average of 29,097. That’s not just a club record, it’s just a little lower than FCB’s all-time record.
Imeris versöhnliches Ende
The 2-1 win against Winterthur can be told quickly: The lack of play is also evident in the last league game, in which the Young Boys, despite having more than 70 percent of the ball, for long stretches lack ideas to break up the defense of the guests. But they have the individual class to make up for it. Jean-Pierre Nsame made it 1-0 after half an hour with a massive direct acceptance. It’s his 21st goal of the season, the 30-year-old, who returned to Bern last summer after a disappointing half-year at Venice, is the Super League’s top scorer for a third time after 2020 and 2021. Since 2018, this award has always gone to a YB striker.
Substitute Kastriot Imeri’s 2-1 in the 89th minute is one of the best goals of the season. The man from Geneva manages to shoot into the right corner of the goal from the left edge of the penalty area – with his left foot, notably his weaker foot.
Kastriot Imeri’s 2-1 is not only a dream goal, but also a happy ending for him after a mixed season.
Photo: Claudio De Capitani (Freshfocus)
After a mixed season, Imeri shows why the Young Boys broke the transfer record for him last August. Maybe this goal will give him a boost, at least that’s what the Bernese are hoping for: Imeri should take on a bigger role in the future after Fabian Rieder’s planned departure.
Racioppi’s sorrow is Keller’s joy
Marvin Keller is in goal against Winterthur because Anthony Racioppi injured his right knee during Thursday’s game in Lugano. The Romand will be able to train under full pressure again in four weeks at the earliest. He, who has flawlessly replaced David von Ballmoos for months, will miss the cup final. It’s bitter for him, for YB his failure should be manageable thanks to Keller.
The 20-year-old is hardly tested by Winterthur. When Roman Buess equalized, which was initiated by a bad pass from Fabian Rieder, he had no chance (48th). He’s lucky after an hour, saves the crossbar for him after Hekuran Kryeziu’s superb shot. That goal too would have been a serious contender for goal of the season.
The Winterthurers of the scene don’t have to mourn for the night. There are no losers on this Whit Monday in Bern. While the Young Boys are still celebrating on the pitch almost an hour after the final whistle, the guests treat themselves to a beer in the catacombs.
Found a mistake?Report now.
2023-05-29 20:34:40
YB – Winterthur 2: 1: And then YB lets it rip
1685458311
#Winterthur #lets #rip
