And FC EDA last title chance this year is sadly gone…
The team performance in the cup this year was, alike the league, exemplary until the crucial matches. A brighter closure was deserved due all the hard work and overcomes during the season. Definitely a hard way to learn, that a steady performance is what brings titles at the end. Heads up and embrace the next challenges! Now, to the game.
Last Saturday, FC EDA was cheered with a lovely autumn sunny day, gathering all the perfect conditions for a game day, as well for the massive number of fans that traveled to Bodenweid to support both teams. Good news for the Swiss Life Cup event. Not that much for FC EDA head coach Strausak whose day began receiving some distressed news regarding the absence of the usual FC EDA keeper Stauffacher due sickness. Büschi was, as usual, called to assume FC EDA’s last line. The player with most presences in official games this season was once more available. Powered by an offensive formation, the team presented itself on a 4-3-3, FC EDA aimed to take the game lead and control with the first whistle.
A few minutes after the kick off was clear already that both teams will have to put a hell of a fight on the pitch to take the trophy home. SC Verkehrsbetriebe Bern (SCV) presented itself with quite consistent defensive lines, disallowing any spaces for FC EDA on the last third of the pitch and exploring the space granted by FC EDA for counter attacking through high-speed passing or long balls.
The first goal chance came from an opening from Viana to the left wing were Michel seized the space granted by the SCV defense, being left alone for a 1 on 1 with the keeper, unfortunately inconclusive. FC EDA struggled hard to create goal chances, since the defensive display of the opponent revealed quite practical allowing only space for several long range shots attempts which were either denied by the keeper or the best aim wasn’t applied.
Within a few minutes passed, SCV broke the tie, through a corner were the inner defender showed up on the first post, unmarked, to set the ball back in the net with a perfect header. The goal, against the game flow, was a rough hit on the red & white team, but without cease arms went back on the goal pursuit. However, it was SCV that near the half time whistle who reached it through a permitted long shot from their tireless midfielder Boss, that catched Büschi unware and without time to react properly; the 2-0 was done.
FC EDA dominated the first half yet the goal chances created did not correspond with the ball possession superiority. A game more fought then played in the middle was serving the interests of the tactical disposal of SCV. To turn this result more risks had to be taken and all the lines take part on the offensive role.
The second half begun as the previous ended, with both teams line-ups prevailing and EDA assuming the game reigns. As the minutes went by the chances created from FC EDA were harmless, a few shots, some nice crosses and combinations but no last finishing touch, and the game kept rolling, until around 70 min when SCV extended the advantage from a free kick. A cleaning attempt on a drop ball in the box resulted in an unexpected rebound directly into the goal. Büschi could do nothing to avoid it. This goal was a huge hit on FC EDA’s aspirations. Despite all the effort made, they were 3 goals behind.
After the goal, coach Strausak brought in some new players. The game was exaggerated narrowed in the midfield when it should have been wider due the agglomerated number of SCV players in the pitch’s core. FC EDA pushed harder and combined with some allowance by SCV – maybe due the 3 goals advantage or fatigue – several goals opportunities were shaped, and with them the EDA-goal finally came. A quarter to the final whistle, Theiler hit a corner and sent the ball onto the crossbar and Viana, taking benefit of the rebound, placed the ball behind the goal line. In the remaining minutes, FC EDA could have reduced the score to the minimum difference but either the keeper denied it or the shots just missed the target.
A word to the SCV team, who fought bravely and fair through a strong and tactically impeccable midfield together with a focused defense line.
The cup journey 2016 for FC EDA is over and, besides the result, it’s important to remind all of the path taken to this final. Cause reaching finals or title-crucial-matches requires to keep a certain level through all the season. It’s the hardest, but still, the main reason to achieve marks and celebrate trophies. Gratitude to everyone who has supported FC EDA tirelessly in this match and, naturally, throughout all the season.
Tore FC EDA:
80. Min. 3:1 Viana
Bemerkungen:
88. Min. Rote Karte Kronenberg (Tätlichkeit)
Aufstellung FC EDA: Büschi, Viana, Gamma, Zierski, Theiler, Michel, Regez, Till Affolter, McHugh, Lüthi, Flühmann
Ersatz: Aeschbacher, Aron Affolter, von Ballmoos, Jonas Affolter, Suren, Kronenberg
Abwesend: Sele, Linder, Kind, Sujee, Gullè, Frey, Stauffacher
