Handball Staffa defeated Fides St. Gallen 34:26 in the Swiss Cup on Thursday evening, bringing an end to the hosts' impressive winning streak. The away side came from behind to secure their first victory in five matches, overturning a season-long pattern of defeats. And here's the thing — Staffa had lost four consecutive games before this result.
The visitors showed composure in the closing stages, outscoring Fides in the final period to pull away from a tight contest. Fides had dominated earlier encounters, including a 41:24 win over Wacker TUN 2 just months ago, but this time the momentum shifted. To be fair, Staffa's defence tightened when it mattered most.
Recent form tells a stark contrast between the two sides. Fides had won four of their last five matches, including a commanding 31:12 victory over Andelfingen on 15 September. Staffa, meanwhile, had suffered defeats in four of their previous five outings, most recently a heavy 34:45 loss to Cadetten Schaffhausen just six days earlier.
The result changes nothing in any league table — this is a cup fixture, not a domestic campaign. But for Staffa, who had lost to St. Gallen 24:31 on 16 September, it represents a turning point of sorts. They came from the dead, as the saying goes, to take something from a game they had no business winning.
The final scoreline of 34:26 masks a match that was closer than the numbers suggest. Both teams traded blows throughout, but Staffa's ability to hold their nerves in the decisive moments proved the difference. The away end never stopped, but tonight the visitors had the last word.
