Lausanne fight back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with 10-man Young Boys

First half stalemate

The match at Stade de la Tuiliere, watched by 7,766 spectators, began with a goalless and largely uneventful first 45 minutes. Blick described the opening period as "stinklangweilig" (stinking boring). Young Boys, who had stormed into the season with 10 goals in their opening two matches (4-2 against Sion and 6-0 against Thoune), found their attacking rhythm muted by a disciplined Lausanne side coached by Luka Elsner. Omar Janneh had Lausanne's best chance before the break, hitting the side netting when clean through on goal. The 19-year-old also tested Marvin Keller shortly before the interval, but the YB goalkeeper saved with his right foot.

Zesiger opens the scoring, Fernandes sees red

Three minutes after the restart, YB captain Cedric Zesiger headed in from an Alvyn Sanches corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute. The goal was Zesiger's first since his return to Bern, and he delivered what 20 Minuten called his best performance of the season so far. Ten minutes later, the match turned when Edimilson Fernandes was shown a straight red card in the 58th minute for a studs-up challenge on Karim Sow at the edge of the penalty area. Referee Anojen Kanagasingam dismissed the former Switzerland international, leaving YB to play the remaining half-hour plus stoppage time with ten men. YB had been the league's red-card leaders last season with 8 dismissals.

Pech doubles the lead, Lausanne respond

Despite the numerical disadvantage, YB extended their lead in the 75th minute when substitute Dominik Pech, who had entered the game seven minutes earlier, finished a counter-attack from a tight angle, with Essende providing the assist. Lausanne pulled one back just two minutes later, Florent Mollet scoring with a powerful right-footed strike from a Sekou Kone cross to make it 1-2. Mollet had also scored the previous weekend in a 1-0 win at Basel.

Butler-Oyedeji's late equaliser

In the 89th minute, substitute Nathan Butler-Oyedeji curled a stunning shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top right corner to level the score at 2-2, with Despotovic providing the assist. Lausanne nearly won it in stoppage time, but Omar Janneh was denied by Marvin Keller in a one-on-one. Keller, who had earlier made two outstanding saves against Janneh, was left with a bloody nose after Janneh's follow-up shot from five metres struck him in the face. The goalkeeper required treatment but stayed on to preserve the point.

Season context and what's next

YB's perfect start to the campaign, with 10 goals scored and 2 conceded in their first two matches, hit its first bump. The Berners could lose the table lead on Sunday if Lugano or St. Gallen win their matches. Lausanne remain unbeaten this season and have proven a bogey team for YB, having won three of the last four meetings between the sides. Christian Fassnacht, who came on as a substitute in the 37th minute, expressed his frustration after the match.

Next weekend brings the first round of the Swiss Cup: Lausanne face FC Kosova Neuchatel (2nd division) on Friday, while YB meet FC Liestal (2nd division inter) on Saturday.