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The game of the decade

Swiss Football Cup 2004 Semi-Final
Grasshopper Club Zurich (GC) beat FC Zurich (FCZ) 6:5 (HT 1:3, FT 5:5)

Special match report for Tim

This was definitely the game of the decade for every hopper (GC addict), a night to remember, a nightmare for FCZ, a dream for GC, an emotional rollercoaster, sheer madness, 120 minutes, which only sports can offer.

Initial position
GC and FCZ, the two teams of Zurich, archenemies since ever, had both an extremely weak start into the season of 2003/04. FCZ is struggling hard to leave the relegation zone, GC after a desastruous start, has only a small chance to reach the 3rd place in the Superleague, way behind shining FC Basel, Young Boys and Servette Genf.
So for both teams winning the Swiss Cup is the only chance to save the season and take part in european competitions (we’re talking qualification matches for UEFA-Cup …). But winnig the cup means first beating the archenemy.

The start
Hardturm is not completetly sold out (a swiss phenomenon). The crowd is expectating two dedicated teams and a thrilling match. In the end «thrilling match» was the understatement of the year. GC started well. After 4 minutes, Richard Nuñez, our gifted player, takes a corner and the ball hits the bar. Ohhh, ahhh the crowd. Only two minutes later, Gygax, FCZ forward and sub21 national player, rushes through our defense, shoots hard, Borer, our goalie dives in the right corner, but Denicola, defender and unlucky team mate deflects the ball in the other corner. 0:1 – we start with an own-goal.

More misery
Our defense unsettles. Panickiness can be grabbed literally by hands. Another harmless FCZ attack brings more misery. Castillo, our center-back (and years ago an FCZ-Player – they still call him «Judas») can’t control the ball, stumbles over it and tries – still lying – to kick the ball out of the 6 yd box as hard as possible. Unfortunately the ball hits the knee of Ziegler, young right-back, and bounces back directly in our goal. 0:2 – second own-goal after just 12 minutes. We can’t believe it; its‘ a nightmare! This; on our ground; against bloody FCZ. We haven’t lost a cup match against them since 35 years. This series can’t end tonight, not in this season!

A glimpse of hope
The morale in the team is still good and the crowd is still chanting. GC now plays better. Several chances; two shots by Eduardo, our superfast brazilian forward, but Taini, FCZ keeper, is on his post. We’re now in minute 37, when Petric hits the ball into the net after a brilliant solo action dribbling trough the FCZ defence. 1:2 – hope arises! We’re back!

A cold shower
Now it’s our play. Elegant combinations, the high rhythm, the intense game make us happy. But all of a sudden Gygax appears in our box, dribbles trough our still weak defence an hits the ball hard in the farer high corner. 1:3! Absolutely no chance for Borer, our goal-keeper. Btw it is the first goal in this match scored without any influence by a GC player. Misery again! Half-time whistle.

FCZ fans
All smiles and cheeks in the half-time break. Everybody is pulling out their mobiles and telling/messaging their friends and relatives about the upcoming sensation: FCZ is going to beat GC on their pitch! I’m deadly nervous and feeling tense. Will it be a day of shame? At my workplace everybody knows that i’m in the stadium tonight. I can already see their malicious grins: „Tell us, how was it last night?“ Do i have to take a day off tomorrow?

Happy restart
We restarted highly motivated. Again several chances, mostly by Eduardo, my man of the match. Unsurprisingly, he brilliantly scored in minute 57, unstoppable for Taini. 2:3! Again hope arised. There was still enough time to score. Our midfield took control of the game and even our trembling defence found back to strength and control.

The sledgehammer
Completely against the flow of the game and after an unlucky interception by Lichtsteiner, our young right-back, FCZ is able to score even twice in one minute! 2:4, 2:5. The Hoppers fall silent. It‘ over. Little more than 20 minutes to go and lacking three goals? This season sucks. just forget it. There’s always a next season. Some hoppers already start leaving the stadium. And the FCZ fans start their fireworks. Mourning wears a blue-white shirt.

Time is running out
Loosing against FCZ is the worst thing, but loosing 2:5 at Hardturm is humiliating. Let us score at least one more fine goal – let us lose in style. The clock shows minute 83, only 7 minutes to go. Eduardo – again Eduardo – scores another brilliant goal! 3:5 – but just cosmetics …

Sheer madness
7 minutes to go. We are empty and sad. But minute 89 came and again Eduardo showed up and hit a header in the net! 4:5 and one minute to go. We were electrified, everybody was screaming and jumping. The referee assistant indicates 4 minutes injury time. 4 minutes! A true gift of God. The power of the crowd seems to be transmitted to the team. Now its a one-way game; attack is followed by attack on Tainis goal. We all can nearly feel physically the equalizer. Do trust your feelings! Petric brings the redemption, he takes advantage of a bounce ball and hit it in the net – we’re in minute 92! 5:5!
Now it’s overtime. Two times 15 minutes; nothing for the fainted hearts.

Overtime
The FCZ players are mentally broken. They led 2:5 up to minute 83 and weren’t able to seal the win! Their energy level dropped like melting snow in the sun. We all knew instantly, we will win this game. And so it was: we’re in minute 95 when Nuñez places a lobball into the net to the final score of 6:5!
In the remaining overtime we had several more crystal clear chances, but didn’t score, but who cares? Hardturm now was an absolute madhouse. No one ever has experienced such a derby.

I’m still hoarse today but who cares about hoarsiness and fatigue after a night like that. Pride wears a blue-white shirt!