FC Thun is promoted to the Super League after defeating Aarau

(sda) FC Thun returns to the Super League after five years in the Challenge League. The Bernese Oberland team takes the final step toward top-flight promotion with a 2-1 win against Aarau in the 33rd round.

After unsuccessful attempts in the play-offs – against Sion in 2021 and Grasshoppers last year – Thun has now made it straight to the final. With three rounds remaining, Mauro Lustrinelli's team is eleven points ahead of rivals Aarau.

The decisive goal came from 19-year-old Franz-Ethan Meichtry ten minutes before the end and just four minutes after coming on as a substitute. The Thun player scored a stunning shot into the top right corner, after Aarau had immediately missed three good chances to take the lead. Sofian Bahloul came closest, hitting the crossbar two minutes before Thun's goal.

In an intense match in front of 10,000 spectators, the home team got off to a perfect start. Layton Stewart gave the Bernese Oberland team the lead in the fifth minute. But just a minute later, Sofian Bahloul countered Thun's lead. He left Niklas Steffen with no chance to defend with a beautiful shot. It was the first goal conceded by the Thun goalie in five games since returning to the net. He would not be defeated again that evening.

Aarau's 19-match unbeaten streak ended. Coach Brunello Iacopetta's team, however, still has a chance of promotion via the play-offs. Since Etoile Carouge also lost 2-1 to Stade Lausanne-Ouchy, their lead over Geneva remains six points.

Stade Nyonnais celebrated an important victory in the fight to avoid relegation. The French-speaking Swiss side defeated Vaduz 1-0 thanks to a goal from Seydou Traoré in the 11th minute. After their second consecutive win, they are seven points ahead of bottom-placed Schaffhausen, with Hakan Yakin's team able to close the gap on Sunday in Will.