FC Sion's unbeaten run came to an end last night on Matchday 8 of the Challenge League. Didier Tholot's men lost for the first time this season to FC Thun. Despite controlling the game for 60 minutes, the Sédunois suffered a setback when they conceded three goals in the space of 15 minutes.
Against the league leaders, FC Sion offered its fans two faces. The first, which lasted an hour, was very pleasant. During this time, the Sédunois had hand on the part and could take two goals in advance. The first came from a Souza corner (27th), perfectly headed in by Baltazar Costa, who scored his first goal of the season. Just before half-time, Ilyas Chouaref doublait la mise en étant à la retombée d'un center de Cristian Souza. Earlier, the winger had put in a fine performance down the left flank. Returning from the locker room, Sédunois would have several situations of killing definitively the match against. Unfortunately, their choices were often wrong.
Unable to close the gap, the Valaisans remained under the threat of a FC Thun comeback. The turning point of the match came between the 66th and 72nd minutes. Mauro Lustrinelli made three changes, including Sacko and Sessolo, and Miguel Castroman fired into the top corner. Boosted by this goal, the Bernese, who had been hardly dangerous up to that point, regained their attacking impetus. In the 77th minute, referee Odiet pointed to the penalty spot. As he tried to clear the ball, Théo Bouchlarhem struck Matoshi's foot. Ihsan Sacko converted his attempt to equalize. The final blow came with three minutes of normal time remaining. Ihsan Sacko crossed for Gutbub, who headed home. Bern's newcomers finally turned the match around.
Obviously disappointed, Didier Tholot raised three points to explain this reversal of fortune: "Our missed chances to score the 3-0, Roth's foul on Bua which was not punished with a second caution in the 55th minute, and the unwhistled foul on Baltazar which preceded their first goal. All of which turned the match on its head. I don't usually talk about the refereeing, but that foul and Castroman's success hurt us. We then fell back, unable to keep hold of the ball and turn it around.
With this defeat, FC Sion are four points behind the Oberland club. The week is not over, however, and the Sédunois will have a chance to bounce back this Friday when they travel to La Maladière to take on Neuchâtel Xamax (8.15pm).
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