After a defeat last week against the now Challenge League champion, FC Thoune, the Neuchâtels made a long trip to Ticino with the aim of reviving and showing a nice image against Bellinzone. For this meeting, the technician Anthony Braizat proceeded to reshuffle the workforce with the absences of Cabral (suspended), Gunnarsson and Fatkic (injured). Facchinetti thus placed itself as a central hinge with Hajrulahu, Fontana and Soro occupying the side posts. In the middle, Saiz – Captain of the Day – and Bamba associated themselves behind an offensive quartet composed of Lentini, Hautier, Demhasaj and Salim Ben Seghir.
Faced with an experienced team, the Red and Black created their first opportunity in the 11th minute when Demhasaj, whose contract was renewed this week, found Hautier in the area. The number 18 of the Xamaxiens continued quickly but saw its shot be rejected by the transverse bar. Unfortunately, in the sequence, it was the Ticino who opened the brand. Following a ballooned from the foot by Omeragic, read, at the entrance to the surface, laid down a big strike which tried the vigilance of the Red and Black porter. The Xamaxiens were not long in reacting and equalized at the 24th minute thanks to the top Xamaxian scorer Demhasaj. The eleventh realization of the number 9 fell on a perfect center of Salim Ben Seghir who recorded his second assist of the season. Rather enterprising, the Xamaxians managed to project themselves forward and create some great opportunities with in particular a lentini strike in the 31st minute of play and another too crossed attempt from Hautier to the 33rd minute. The Ticino, largely dominated, offered themselves a golden opportunity to take advantage before half-time when Nivokazi found themselves alone facing Omeragic. The Xamaxian goalkeeper released a beautiful parade to maintain this parity score at the break.
On the return of tea, the Bellinzone players very quickly came to put pressure on the Xamaxian defense which was holding good in particular thanks to a new beautiful parade of Edin Omeragic (51 ‘). After having resisted the Ticino assaults, the Red and Black resumed the game in hand without being able to be really dangerous. But, on a misunderstanding and a potential fault on Omeragic, Nkama found himself in the ideal position to score the goal of 2 to 1 for Ticino. Sounded, the Red and Black even suffered a third goal in the sequence on a dry strike from Nivokazi (72 ‘) … Omeragic had to win the 82nd and 84th minute on an acrobatic recovery to prevent the addition from becoming increasing.
The red and black thus conceded a second loss of row. They will have to do better in Carouge next Friday to end this series of five games without success.
