A sunny Saturday morning at stade de Richemont, another semi-final against Luzerner SC, four years of defeat surely that will do?!

So lets get the details straight, a full strength squad, after last weeks experimental eleven, briefing done, starting eleven announced, lets roll! Tempers flair before the match, a slight dispute with Luzerner SC over balls (“bonne guerre”) as would say Pierre!

Start of the match is a cagey affair Servette did not really get out of the traps and Luzerner SC were able to find a reasonable amount of success breaking down their right flank, they were able to provoke a few penalty corners which were well defended, with a sizable effort from Philippe to preserve the parity! Servette are slowly able to get a foot hold in the game, pressure leads to a short corner. It is said that victory loves preparation, so when Laxman stepped up to drag flick Friday nights spent preparing = goal! We come in at half time 1-0 up, a lead with minimal effort!

The second half starts sloppily and Servette take five minutes to get in the game but are able to soak up pressure! A counter attack leads to a circle penetration, a horrible foul, STROKE! Matthieu steps up.

A wise man once said there are two types of penalty those that go in and those that don’t! Type number one for Matthieu 2-0!

Luzerner SC are always a dangerous side and after a dubious short corner and a splendid drag flick the score reads 2-1. We have seen situations like this with Servette in the past but belief is a strong motivator and Servette have acquired belief so we keep pushing forward cute action down the left, cross and laxman on the end to tip in. Servette keep pushing Lucerne seem leggy penalty corner awarded and up steps Laxman 4-1, in come the hats!

That is how it will finish 4-1 tempers fray again at the end, a certain lack of grace from Luzerner SC! “Cheap” according to Herr Messerli.

So after a quite night in Legends in Lucerne we are ready for the second match. Difficult situation to manage when leading 4-1, stick of twist? The message is pretty clear time to finish the job!

Under a hot sun we know what awaits us the storm is blowing in off lac Lucerne and the waves are crashing against our back four! But the instruction was to hold firm and hold firm we did!

Lucerne have their chances and pressure but Gregory holds them at bay at times breathtakingly so, in we go at half time 0-0! Second half Lucerne continues their pressure but Servette control repress, extinguish and push back! With 13 minutes to go a Lucerne corner leads to a score 1-0! Could Lucerne launch a comeback? No!

Servette will see out the game a 1-0 loss never tasted so good! So we are set for another week and another final Rotweiss Wettingen awaits us!

Patrick Montabletti