The FC Thun celebrated a hard-fought 3-2 away victory against FC Wil on February 23, 2025, at the Lidl Arena, maintaining their lead at the top of the Challenge League. This win was particularly significant for Thun, who bounced back from their recent defeat by FC Aarau, reaffirming their position as contenders for promotion.
From the outset, Thun demonstrated dominance over their opponents. Key moments were evident early on when Christopher Ibayi, playing energetically on the frontline, nearly scored with spectacular efforts hitting the crossbar on two occasions before he found success from the penalty spot just before half time.
The match took place under the watchful eyes of 1,548 fans, who saw their team struggle to find rhythm against the determined Thun side. FC Wil had their moments too, but often fell short, either missing the target or being thwarted by Thun's sturdy defense.
A controversial moment arrived when Thun was awarded the penalty after Ibayi was fouled by Wil's David Jacovic, who contested the call, insisting he had played the ball first. Nevertheless, Ibayi stepped up to take the penalty himself, coolly slotting it home to give Thun the lead as the first half ended.
Into the second half, Thun didn’t let their guard down. Just past the hour mark, Genis Montolio, who had previously played for Wil, rose to head home from a well-placed free kick by Mathias Tomas, doubling Thun’s advantage and capitalizing on their aerial presence.
Despite this setback, Wil refused to buckle. Nico Maier managed to pull one back shortly after, pouncing on defensive lapses from Thun to volley a fine shot past their goalkeeper, reducing the deficit to 1-2.
Thun quickly re-established their two-goal cushion when Fabio Fehr, after being consistently involved, found the net with a perfectly placed shot from inside the box, bringing the score to 3-1. This was particularly sweet for Fehr as it marked his first goal of the season after several assists.
With time running out and victory seemingly within grasp, Thun seemed to ease off slightly, allowing Wil to find one more consolation goal. Simon Geiger headed home during stoppage time, providing a nervy finish for the visitors. Yet, it was too late for Wil to salvage anything from the game.
The victory keeps Thun just one point clear of FC Aarau, who also secured three points against FC Vaduz. With the Challenge League title race heating up, every point is precious, and Thun’s resilience shown against Wil could prove pivotal as the season progresses.
The next chance for Thun to extend their lead will come as they host Stade Nyonnais, seeking to consolidate their spot at the top of the table with another strong performance.