Servette Agonisingly Close To European Upset

Servette came heartbreakingly close to overturning a two-goal deficit against Chelsea in the Europa Conference League, ultimately falling just short in a thrilling second leg in Geneva.

Trailing 2-0 from the first leg at Stamford Bridge, Les Grenats faced a daunting task. Christopher Nkunku’s 14th-minute penalty, awarded after Keigo Tsunemoto fouled Mykhailo Mudryk, appeared to extinguish their chances. Yet, Servette refused to give up, showing remarkable resilience against their Premier League opponents.

Jeremy Guillemenot breathed life into Servette’s campaign, latching onto a precise pass from Dereck Kutesa and calmly slotting the ball past Filip Jorgensen to make it 1-1 on the night. The goal shifted momentum, and as the match progressed, belief among the home fans began to swell.

Their optimism was justified when substitutes Miroslav Stevanovic and Enzo Crivelli combined brilliantly. Stevanovic’s pinpoint cross from the left found Crivelli, whose powerful header gave Servette a 2-1 lead on the night and left them just one goal away from forcing extra time.

The tension was palpable as the clock ticked down. Suddenly, on the back foot, Chelsea were scrambling to hold their slender aggregate lead. The Swiss side pressed on relentlessly, and an upset could be on the cards with time running out.

Then, in the match’s dying moments, Servette were presented with one final opportunity. As the fourth minute of added time loomed, Timothe Cognat found himself with the chance to write his name into club folklore. The stadium held its breath as he struck the ball, only to see it agonisingly roll wide of the post.

It was a cruel end for Servette, who had given everything to pursue a European dream. Despite their defeat on the night, Chelsea progressed with a 3-2 aggregate win, but the Swiss side walked away with their heads held high after pushing the English giants to the brink.

Site Opinion

This is a huge blow for Thomas Harbeli’s side despite going close. They were Europa League group-stage competitors last time out, and now they face a campaign with no interest in games on the continent at all.

It’s early days in the Credit Suisse Super League, and one point separates the top five, but this result places a much heavier emphasis on them to ensure they finish in those top four spots and enter Europe once again next season.