Vaduz vie for Swiss success

By Marco Keller

Opening victory
They began the domestic season with a 4-0 victory against FC Meryin, Fabio D'Elia scoring twice as the home side racked up four second-half goals. A 2-1 win at FC Winterthur followed before they dropped their first points of the season at home to FC Sion on Sunday.

Lausanne challenge
Nevertheless, second place behind a Stéphane Chapuisat-inspired FC Lausanne-Sport constitutes a good start to the new term for Mats Gren's side after the heartbreaking end to last season. Vaduz were denied a place in the Swiss First Division by a solitary goal from FC Schaffhausen’s Daniel Senn in the relegation/promotion play-off.

European success
That defeat raised questions over the very future of the club but the signing of midfield player Alonzo Zuniga from CD Concepción has dispelled some fears. The 25-year-old Chilean international played no part in Vaduz's 2-1 aggregate victory against Romania's FC Dacia Chisinau in the UEFA Cup first qualifying round, equalling their best run - set last season with a win against Longford Town FC - and setting up a tie against Turkish giants Besiktas JK.