Three days after a memorable match in Tourbillon, FC Sion had to get back to work against AC Bellinzona on Sunday afternoon. With patience and hard work, the Valais outfit won 3-0 in front of their home crowd.

Key facts

Today's match against Bellinzona had a special flavour, whatever you think about it. It was the 'match after' Thursday's victory in the Swiss Cup. The opponents were different, as were the atmosphere and playing conditions. Didier Tholot's men managed to avoid the trap that was set for them. 

In a first half without much in the way of chances on either side, and against an opponent who tried to break up play whenever they could, Sédun proved patient and solid. FC Sion gradually established themselves in the Ticino camp, but had to wait until the 53rd minute for their efforts to be rewarded. Joël Schmied headed home Cristian Souza's perfect cross to open the scoring.

A few minutes later, and especially a few seconds after Sorgic's introduction, Sion found themselves on the scoresheet. The FC Sion top scorer was well advanced and ready to take on goalkeeper Iacobucci, but was held up by Mihajlovic a few yards out. Mihajlovic was understandably sent off.

With eleven men against ten, the Valaisans scored twice. Taking advantage of a big mistake by the Ticino goalkeeper, Rusev cleverly slipped the ball to Chipperfield, who had just come on. A few minutes later, Baltazar found the same Liam Chipperfield for 3-0.

Reactions 

Joël Schmied, FC Sion defender:

"It was mentally tough. We played a very emotional game on Thursday night in a full stadium. Then we had to play Bellinzona on a Sunday afternoon with a very different crowd. Naturally, the feeling wasn't the same, but that shouldn't change the way we performed on the pitch.

"The staff congratulated us one last time on the match against YB before asking us to move on. That a new game was starting. Thun had won, so we had to be solid and not take a goal. And that's exactly what happened.

"We had to be patient until the first goal came. We knew how to stay calm and not panic. Bellinzona were playing very defensively. We upped the tempo in the second half and it showed on the pitch."

"My goal? The coach told me several times that I had to score with my head again (laughs). I'm happy, because we needed to put 1-0 up in a game that wasn't easy."

Composition

FC Sion - AC Bellinzona 3-0 (0-0)
Sion, Stade de Tourbillon, 4,900 spectators.
Referees: Thies; Sbrissa, Hartmann; Roux.
Goals: 53' Schmied (1-0), 83' Chipperfield (2-0), 88' Chipperfield (3-0)
Warnings: 14' Lamy, 40' Centinaro, 92' Rusev
Sent off: 65' Mihajlovic
FC Sion: Fayulu; Lavanchy, Schmied, Ziegler, Hefti; Baltazar, Kabacalman (65' Bua, released for Diouf at 85'); Souza (65' Sorgic), Chouaref, Berdayes (77' Chipperfield); Bouchlarhem (77' Rusev).
AC Bellinzona: Iacobucci; Lamy (73' Alounga), Rodrigues, Sauter, Mihajlovic; Centinaro (56' Neelakandan), Sörensen (55' Chacon), Mahmoud, Maressa (55' Seiler); Tosetti, Benguche (91' Zimmerman).
Notes: Sion without Itaitinga (injured). Bua replaced as a precaution due to calf pain.
Corner kicks: 9-1

Next up

Before hosting FC Thun in the Valais on Friday 15 March, FC Sion travel to La Maladière on Friday to take on Neuchâtel Xamax. A derby followed by a top-of-the-table clash. The next two matches promise to be thrilling!

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