Late Drama and Earned Relief: Black Stars Rally for Point Against Schötz as Survival Fight Intensifies

On a brisk autumn afternoon at Sportplatz Buschweilerhof, the Black Stars delivered a match that defied their recent narrative of frustration, clawing back to secure a 2-2 draw against Schötz—a result that, while far from transformative, at least brought a pause to their downward spiral.

For the hosts, mired in 12th place and bearing the fresh bruises of four consecutive defeats, Saturday’s contest carried the desperation of a team fighting for both points and pride. Schötz, themselves eager to steady after a campaign of swings and stumbles, arrived in Basel just two spots higher—both clubs acutely aware of the weight such mid-October fixtures can carry come spring.

The scoring opened in the 12th minute, when Schötz’s Lukas Kaufmann coolly finished a swift counterattack, threading his shot past the outstretched arm of Black Stars goalkeeper Marcel Huber. It was a goal built on sharp movement and clinical passing, a reminder of why Schötz had crafted wins in three of their last five outings after a heavy setback to Delémont. Suddenly, the uneasy murmur among the home faithful grew just a notch louder.

To their credit, the Black Stars answered adversity with resolve. Forward Daniel Nussbaumer, the lone bright spot in recent weeks, drew level in the 28th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to slide home a low shot from 14 yards. The relief was palpable, the equalizer a rare moment of cohesion for a side that had conceded three or more goals in each of their previous four contests.

Neither side, however, could muster true control. The match devolved for stretches into a frenzied midfield struggle, both teams brave but frequently imprecise, possession swapped with the regularity of the shifting wind.

The tension peaked shortly after halftime. Schötz, emboldened by their early success, regained the lead in the 54th minute—this time through a thundering header by captain Sandro Wyss off a perfectly weighted corner. Wyss rose above markers at the far post, steering his effort into the top corner to the astonishment of Huber and the frustration of the home crowd.

With the Black Stars facing another defeat and their supporters growing restless, tempers flared. The match saw its only sending-off in the 67th minute when Black Stars midfielder Gianni di Santo earned a straight red card for a studs-up challenge—the kind of challenge that spoke more of fatigue and anxiety than malice. Now a man down, Black Stars seemed all but resigned to defeat.

Yet, football’s cruelties are sometimes offset by its capacity for late redemption.

In the 84th minute, substitute Amir Hadzic—a player with little fanfare but ample determination—found himself on the end of a goalmouth scramble, lashing the ball across the line to thunderous applause. The moment encapsulated Black Stars’ spirit: battered, outplayed in spells, yet never bereft of belief.

As the final whistle sounded, both teams wore the unmistakable mixture of relief and regret. For Black Stars, the result halted a four-match losing slide, offering a slender lifeline in a season that has been unkind. With 11 points from nine matches, they remain in 12th—still perilously close to the relegation mire, but at least with some embers of hope rekindled.

Schötz, meanwhile, will rue surrendering a lead against 10 men but take solace in moving to 13 points and consolidating 9th place. Their recent pattern—three wins in five, but also a 0-5 thumping at Delémont—suggests a side still hunting consistency.

Head-to-head, these sides have often played close. Last season’s meetings were both decided by a single goal, and this afternoon fit the established script—tense, scrappy, rarely conclusive.

Looking ahead, both clubs face pivotal weeks. For Black Stars, the draw feels less like a turning point and more like a ceasefire in their battle for self-belief. A visit to playoff-contender Solothurn looms, and anything short of another resilient performance will see them slide deeper toward danger. Schötz, for their part, look toward fixtures against fellow mid-table opponents—matches that could define whether they drift aimlessly or claw higher.

There will be no headlines for October classics in Basel. Yet for both Black Stars and Schötz, Saturday’s drama leaves the table marginally shifted—and the stakes, unmistakably, as high as ever.