GENEVA (AP) — Young Boys sealed its sixth Swiss league title in seven years by winning at Servette 1-0 on Monday to complete a late-season rally after firing coach Raphaël Wicky.
Wicky, the former Chicago Fire and United States Under-17s coach, was fired in March after losing three games in a week. Under-21s coach Joël Magnin took interim charge.
Young Boys will enter the revamped 36-team Champions League in the qualification playoffs round in August because Switzerland no longer has a direct entry into the main phase. Young Boys played in a group with Manchester City this season.
Needing just a point at Servette in the second-to-last round, Young Boys took all three on Guinea defender Mohamed Ali Camara’s header in the 73rd minute as a severe rainstorm swept across the stadium.
Young Boys moved nine points clear of second-placed Lugano which lost at Zurich 2-1. Servette is four points further back, meaning Lugano will finish runner-up and enter the Champions League in July at the second qualifying round stage.
The champion from Bern has 17 Swiss league titles to tie Servette in third place on the all-time list.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
What a blast to work at NASA. Space agency is sky
Russia says proof show link between Moscow attack terrorists, Ukraine
Death toll from Moscow terror attack rises to 93
Scientists say coral reefs around the world are experiencing mass bleaching in warming oceans
Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation
Giant panda Fu Bao transported to base in Wolong National Nature Reserve for quarantine
Lang Lang becomes 1st Chinese musician to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
Conservationists give wings to black
Kate Hudson hits the stage to debut songs from her new album Glorious at star
Greek athletes excited to attend Chengdu Universiade