BERN, Apr 17 (SW) - Winning the Swiss Cup is nothing new to FC Sion, but today was a special moment as they won the trophy despite being in the second division this time around. They defeated Young Boys Bern 5-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1.

The result was also historic for Swiss football as Sion became the first club outside of the top flight to win the national cup since the competition's inception in 1925.

It was the Super League side, Young Boys, who got off to the better start when Carlos Varela put them in front on the quarter-hour mark, but in the 31st minute, they had fullback Steve Gohouri sent off for a professional foul.

This revitalized Sion and they found themselves level in the second half when a free kick by Goran Obdanovic found its way beyond everyone, and they could have had more with the extra man, but failed to take advantage.

The same could be said as the match went into extra time, as Young Boys had to endure another 30 minutes down a man, but things were leveled back up when Sion's João Pinto was dismissed near the end.

Penalties then ensued and it couldn't have been a worse start for Young Boys as João Paulo struck the bar with the very first attempt of the shootout. Everyone after that converted from the spot and the Sion faithful were jubilant in triumph.

It was Sion's 10th cup triumph in their history, keeping alive their mark of being unbeaten when reaching the Swiss Cup final. Sion's 10 cups are second only to the 18 won by Grasshoppers and their first since 1997.

Sion, who currently sit in second place in the second division - which would force them to playoff for promotion, will now also enter the first round of the 2006/07 UEFA Cup.