Daniel Afriyie Barnieh produced a superb performance on Monday evening, scoring twice to lead FC Aarau to a commanding 3-0 win over Stade Lausanne-Ouchy in the Swiss Challenge League.
The Ghanaian forward opened the scoring in the 22nd minute at the Stadion Brügglifeld, finishing clinically to hand Aarau the advantage.
He doubled his tally in the 63rd minute, putting the result beyond doubt with another composed strike that underlined his growing importance to the team.
Valon Fazliu added a third deep into stoppage time, sealing a dominant victory that extended Aarau’s unbeaten run to five matches and kept their promotion hopes firmly on track.
Barnieh, who played the full 90 minutes, has now registered four goals in his first five league appearances for the club since joining earlier this summer.
His sharpness in front of goal has already made him a central figure in Aarau’s campaign, with supporters quick to embrace his impact.
Equally influential at the other end was compatriot David Acquah, who marshalled the defence with composure to help secure a clean sheet.
His disciplined performance provided the platform for Aarau’s attacking talents to flourish.
Barnieh’s move to Aarau came after a two-and-a-half-year spell at FC Zurich.
The 24-year-old, who previously starred for Hearts of Oak in Ghana, signed on a free transfer and has wasted little time in establishing himself as a key player in Switzerland’s second tier.
With three senior Ghana caps already to his name, Barnieh is eager to translate his club form into international recognition.
His recent scoring streak is likely to strengthen his case for a recall to the Black Stars ahead of upcoming fixtures.
Aarau have given me the chance to prove myself again, Barnieh said after the game. I am focused on helping the team achieve promotion, and hopefully that will also open doors at the national level.
For Aarau, the result against Lausanne-Ouchy further demonstrated their ambition to return to the top flight.
Consistency will be crucial in what promises to be a tight race, and Barnieh’s ability to deliver goals could prove decisive.
As the Challenge League season gathers pace, Monday’s performance highlighted not only Barnieh’s finishing instincts but also the balance of a side blending attacking flair with defensive solidity.
For both club and player, the signs point towards a campaign of promise.
