21.05.06 : Stade Lausanne – Servette HC

After a exciting game last Sunday (14th May 2006) at Geneva against Basler (6-3 victory), we felt ready to face the ‘Red Devils of Lausanne’. An early ‘rendez-vous’ at Stade de Richemont started our day. We arrived at Vidy, where our game was held and we went to the restaurant to get our coffee/ tea/ hot chocolate to wake us up. After, we headed off to the changing rooms but what do we find out; that the Dutch National football team rented the football facility for their preparation for the World Cup in Germany. So we had to go to the Stade Coubertin and quickly get our gear on. Alalalala the Dutch!!!!!

With a nice jog and warming up next to the lake, we were ready on the field to face our opponents. But what do we see then?!? Two Dutch referees; finally some good refereeing! With the absence of Julien, Leonard came to help us with good goal keeping after an 8 month stop. The start of the match, like the previous match, was excellent with high standard hockey, fast ‘3 touch’ hockey and with us having the possession of the ball making us the stronger team. At around 15 minutes, a great tip in of Nicolas S. gave us the 1-0. Later, Mathieu lobs the goalie and giving us the 2-0. Lots of other actions continued but we didn’t manage to make that last touch.

At around the 30th minute, a Lausanne Defender gets badly tackled in our 22 by ‘Mr. X’ and Lausanne gets a short corner, leading to a goal. After this goal, Servette had to ‘focus’ and return to the game that they played before, for the 5 minutes remaining until half-time.

In the Second half, the Servette that we know took the control the game once again by having lots of shots on goal and short corners. At the 50th minute, Thierry Grandchamp scores the forth goal with a short corner by the goalie’s left side. Servette takes advantage of this and puts pressure on the Lausanne defenders and minutes later, another short corner is whistled and once again Thierry Grandchamp pushes the ball in the net. The Game continues without any other goals until the final whistle.

Once again, Servette manages to win and not get any yellow cards! This game was a great preparation for the ‘demi-finale de Coupe Suisse’ against Black Boys (17-18 June, Zurich) and a great opportunity to show our team spirit. Come on Servette let’s win the CUP!!!

Olaf Lugard