Wednesday 25 May 2022, 22:00

Swiss clubs clinch title on penalties

  • Day 2 at the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup 2022

  • Women: FC Zurich triumph in penalty shootout

  • Men: FC Basel celebrate victory

MATCHDAY REVIEW: Several thousand football fans made their way to the two immaculately prepared grass pitches at Altstetten in Zurich for the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup on 25 and 26 May 2022. 

At the end of a tournament packed with drama aplenty, FC Zurich met their French counterparts from Olympique Lyonnais in the women’s final on Thursday evening. The match posed a formidable challenge for the Swiss, who finally found the target to level the scores at 1-1 just seconds before the final whistle. Zurich maintained their momentum in the subsequent penalty shootout to claim the trophy and win their fifth game of the tournament.

Meanwhile FC Basel also prevailed on penalties against Mainz 05 in the men’s final to remain the only unbeaten side in the competition, with four wins and one draw to their name.

Final day results

Women   Group A FC Zurich 4-1 VfL Wolfsburg CF Valencia 1-0 FC Basel

Group B Grasshopper Club Zurich 0-2 Olympique Lyonnais FC Rosengard 3-1 BSC YB Frauen

Semi-finals FC Zurich 3-0 FC Rosengard Olympique Lyonnais 2-0 CF Valencia

Final FC Zurich 1-1 Olympique Lyonais (FC Zurich won 6-5 on penalties) 

Men  Group A Blue Stars 0-6 SL Benfica 1. FSV Mainz 05 1-2 FC Zurich

Group B Grasshopper Club Zurich 1-1 CF Valencia FK Austria Vienna 1-1 FC Basel 

Semi-finals FC Zurich 2-4 FC Basel FK Austria Vienna 0-2 1. FSV Mainz 05 

Final 1. FSV Mainz 05 0-0 FC Basel (FC Basel won 5-4 on penalties)

Blue Stars FIFA Youth Cup 2022 - Day 1

What they said

“It was an amazing experience to be able to play at this tournament. I’m so proud of our team – the fact that we were able to come out on top against international opponents is incredible.” Leela Egli (FC Zurich, Best Women’s Player of the Tournament)  “Getting this far as a team is an indescribable feeling.” Siv Schefer (FC Zurich Women) “Winning a tournament is just a super feeling. The whole team are so happy for these young women. They constantly improved from the first match to the last, and in the end we managed to beat four international sides. I also think we deserve to win the tournament, as we have the best player of the tournament and scored the most goals. As a coach, I couldn’t be happier.” Costa Vettas (FC Zurich Women coach)

“The tournament was exceptionally well organised and the way we progressed through it was phenomenal. It really was a brilliant event, thank you.” Nik Leipold (1. FSV Mainz 05)

“Everything was perfect. The tournament, the pitches – it really was great.” Kaygin Dennis (1. FSV Mainz 05)

“The tournament was superb. Good opponents, good teams. Everyone gave it their all, and of course it’s great to be able to finish the evening as winners. I’m very proud of my team; we fought so hard. We earned the victory and are over the moon about it.” Emirhan Eraslan (FC Basel)

Individual awards

Best women’s player: Leela Egli (FC Zurich) Best men’s player: Brajan Gruda (1. FSV Mainz 05) Best women’s goalkeeper: F. Belhadj (Olympique Lyonnais) Best men’s goalkeeper: Tim Spycher (FC Basel) Fair Play award: VfL Wolfsburg (women); SL Benfica (men)

Blue Stars FIFA Youth Cup 2022 - Day 1
Blue Stars FIFA Youth Cup 2022 - Day 1

Final standings

Men: 1. FC Basel; 2. 1. FSV Mainz 05; 3. FC Zurich; 4. FK Austria Vienna; 5. CF Valencia; 6. SL Benfica; 7. Grasshoppers Club Zurich; 8. Blue Stars

Frauen: 1. FC Zurich; 2. Olympique Lyonnais; 3. FC Rosengard; 4. CF Valencia; 5. VfL Wolfsburg; 6. BSC YB Frauen; 7. FC Basel; 8. Grasshopper Club Zurich