Xherdan Shaqiri scores a hat-trick to fire FC Basel to a 3-1 home win over Servette and top spot in the Super League for the first time in over three years.
Xherdan Shaqiri had the luck of the draw on Sunday evening, when the Basel returnee thrilled the 26,000-strong crowd at St. Jakob-Park with a hat-trick. The 33-year-old failed to beat Servette goalkeeper Jérémy Frick with a penalty in the 91st minute, but the ball bounced back into the striker's feet. The 2:1 was perfect. Shaqiri secured victory a little later after a counter-attack. He had made it 1:0 in the 40th minute with a free kick that found its way through the opening wall.
"A great day for us," Shaqiri understandably said in an interview with "blue". The outcome of the game was also in the balance. Servette were on a par, even superior at times. After Timothé Cognat made it 1:1 in the 55th minute following a fine combination, Geneva were in control for a long time and played their part in the thrilling and exciting top-of-the-table game. An uncontrolled challenge by Gaël Ondoua on substitute Léo Leroy in his own penalty area spoiled Servette's trip to Basel late on.
However, Basel's victory did not come about entirely by chance. FCB were a touch more dangerous with their attacking trio, Kevin Carlos, Shaqiri and Bénie Traoré, who together scored 18 goals - the same number as FC Sion, more than Yverdon, Winterthur and GC. FCB is a deserved leader because, with six wins from the last seven games, it is the team with the strongest form, has by far the best offense in the league with 38 goals and, together with Lugano, also has the best defense with 16 goals conceded.
Telegram:
Basel - Servette 3:1 (1:0)
26'247 spectators. - SR Tschudi. - Goals: 40. Shaqiri 1:0. 55. Cognat (Guillemenot) 1:1. 91. Shaqiri 2:1. 92. Shaqiri (Traoré) 3:1.
Basel: Hitz; Mendes, Barisic, Vouilloz, Schmid; Avdullahu, Romário Baró (59. Leroy); Soticek (66. Sigua), Shaqiri, Traoré; Kevin Carlos (82. Ajeti).
Servette: Frick; Tsunemoto, Rouiller, Severin, Magnin; Douline, Ondoua; Stevanovic, Cognat (90. Ouattara), Kutesa (76. von Moos); Guillemenot (60. Simbakoli).
Remarks: 90. Frick saves penalty from Shaqiri. Cautions: 32nd Barisic, 69th Cognat.
SDA
