Grasshopper Club Zurich 3-1 FC Zurich
Stadion Letzigrund
Att: 13,600
30/10/13
For a short while we here at PDM have quietly sat at our desks watching what happens in Austria and Switzerland with some interest, and with teams prominence in Europe we decided we fancied experiencing it ourselves, for comparison of the match day experiance. Half term came around and I couldn't help but suggest we attend the derby in Zurich on a spare Wednesday. Much to my surprise this was met with agreement and before long travel arrangements made, hotel across from the ground booked and car packed. Off we headed on a road trip to a new land to watch football in a new country, well domestically at least. What a choice it turned out to be, in this derby game between the club of the working class, and the club of the elite. One of, if not the, biggest games in Switzerland.
Upon checking in we had a few hours to spare we made our way into the town, wandered around and did a truly British thing. Sat in an Irish Bar to kill time. After a short while we decided enough was enough and headed back to the ground. We couldn't help but note that there wasn't a derby day atmosphere, in fact there was no one around. We thought this strange, but we arrived back at the Hotel to realise why. After an enquiry we also found out that this was a 'dry game' with no beer sales within a certain area. Well, unless booked into the nearby hotel! Here we sat, watching, while Phil commented how he hadn't seen a single Grasshopper fan, only FC Zurich. The reasoning was simple, we were at the wrong end of the ground, thus defeating the object of the hotel.
Round we went, past two lines of riot police, to find the supporters we'd be spending the evening with, making our way in and finding our spot behind the goal. While not a traditional football ground, it's a ground we couldn't help but like. The 25,000 capacity Letizgrund is in its second phase of life, rebuilt for Euro 2008 where it hosted 3 games. It's been home to FC Zurich since 1925, with the 'home' team tonight moving in in 2007 after leaving Stadion Hardturm. The ground is a bowl surrounding an Athletics track, with a terrace behind half of one end. The roof and floodlights make it somewhat interesting.
The players entered the field, the Sudkurve, where the 'away' fans were situated let of numerous flares and fireworks. It was by far the most amazing pyro (to that point) show we'd seen, as we stood in awe almost taken aback. With it dying down we turned to realise that the GCZ fans had unfurled a plain black surfer, and with that we could tell something was going to happen. With that there was a large bang and flames appearing before our view was little more than black smoke. The photos we got don't do much justice, mainly due to the angle, but I've sourced some videos, click here and here. In doing this research I've found that GCZ rarely, if ever, use pyro in this way, but it appears they've had enough with the stadium, not being in their area of the city and sharing with their rivals.. There were plans for the old ground to be rebuilt, but plans appeared to have stalled and the fans given up hope.
With this happening in the background we'd almost forgotten about the game. It kicked off and from the start there was only going to be one winner, and that was the 'home' team. With little chances of note, they'd go in at Half time a goal ahead. This coming from Caio in the 19th minute. The second half was to be a slightly better affair. The two teams emerged from the tunnel to be greeted by yet more Pyro from FCZ. As the smoke cleared the game got back underway, with the 'home' team doubling their lead in the 53rd minute. There was then a hold in play as a golf kart came to collect an injured player. FCZ pulled one back in the 69th minute. A wicked deflection, met by more pyro from the 'away' team. Any chance of a derby come back we scuppered in the 83rd minute when GCZ got their 3rd. In scoring the goal an FCZ player got injured, with more delays waiting for the golf kart to play. More frustration followed for the 'visitors' as they had used all their subs.
The game finished and we made our way into the street to walk to the Mexican restaurant behind the other goal. Our plans were scuppered at the sight of a big metal barricade across the road, and riot police behind. We stood waiting, and it became clear this fence wasn't going anywhere. The GCZ congregated in a large group, as we stood half expecting something to happen. Instead they marched, silently away from the ground. No noise, nothing. A strange sight. It was even weirder when we got outside the 'away' end to see all the FCZ fans had gone home.
The Mexican was lovely by the way.
Upon checking in we had a few hours to spare we made our way into the town, wandered around and did a truly British thing. Sat in an Irish Bar to kill time. After a short while we decided enough was enough and headed back to the ground. We couldn't help but note that there wasn't a derby day atmosphere, in fact there was no one around. We thought this strange, but we arrived back at the Hotel to realise why. After an enquiry we also found out that this was a 'dry game' with no beer sales within a certain area. Well, unless booked into the nearby hotel! Here we sat, watching, while Phil commented how he hadn't seen a single Grasshopper fan, only FC Zurich. The reasoning was simple, we were at the wrong end of the ground, thus defeating the object of the hotel.
Round we went, past two lines of riot police, to find the supporters we'd be spending the evening with, making our way in and finding our spot behind the goal. While not a traditional football ground, it's a ground we couldn't help but like. The 25,000 capacity Letizgrund is in its second phase of life, rebuilt for Euro 2008 where it hosted 3 games. It's been home to FC Zurich since 1925, with the 'home' team tonight moving in in 2007 after leaving Stadion Hardturm. The ground is a bowl surrounding an Athletics track, with a terrace behind half of one end. The roof and floodlights make it somewhat interesting.
The players entered the field, the Sudkurve, where the 'away' fans were situated let of numerous flares and fireworks. It was by far the most amazing pyro (to that point) show we'd seen, as we stood in awe almost taken aback. With it dying down we turned to realise that the GCZ fans had unfurled a plain black surfer, and with that we could tell something was going to happen. With that there was a large bang and flames appearing before our view was little more than black smoke. The photos we got don't do much justice, mainly due to the angle, but I've sourced some videos, click here and here. In doing this research I've found that GCZ rarely, if ever, use pyro in this way, but it appears they've had enough with the stadium, not being in their area of the city and sharing with their rivals.. There were plans for the old ground to be rebuilt, but plans appeared to have stalled and the fans given up hope.
With this happening in the background we'd almost forgotten about the game. It kicked off and from the start there was only going to be one winner, and that was the 'home' team. With little chances of note, they'd go in at Half time a goal ahead. This coming from Caio in the 19th minute. The second half was to be a slightly better affair. The two teams emerged from the tunnel to be greeted by yet more Pyro from FCZ. As the smoke cleared the game got back underway, with the 'home' team doubling their lead in the 53rd minute. There was then a hold in play as a golf kart came to collect an injured player. FCZ pulled one back in the 69th minute. A wicked deflection, met by more pyro from the 'away' team. Any chance of a derby come back we scuppered in the 83rd minute when GCZ got their 3rd. In scoring the goal an FCZ player got injured, with more delays waiting for the golf kart to play. More frustration followed for the 'visitors' as they had used all their subs.
The game finished and we made our way into the street to walk to the Mexican restaurant behind the other goal. Our plans were scuppered at the sight of a big metal barricade across the road, and riot police behind. We stood waiting, and it became clear this fence wasn't going anywhere. The GCZ congregated in a large group, as we stood half expecting something to happen. Instead they marched, silently away from the ground. No noise, nothing. A strange sight. It was even weirder when we got outside the 'away' end to see all the FCZ fans had gone home.
The Mexican was lovely by the way.