After the break dedicated to the National teams, FC Lugano resumes its path in the championship with a prestigious victory. In Cornaredo, the bianconeri overcame FC Zürich 1-0, gaining three important points that allow them to hook right the biancoblù at the fifth place in the standings.
Croci-Torti's team starts off strong, determined to give continuity to the victory against Winterthur last October 5. In the first minutes Lugano imposes its pace and forces Zurich into its own half of the field. In the 9th minute Grgic immediately warms up the crowd with a right-footed shot from outside the box that grazes the post, a foretaste of an HCL-tinged first half. High pressure and fluid dribbling allow the hosts to manage the game with authority, lacking only a hint of precision in the last meters.
In the 26th minute came the well-deserved lead: Zanotti - making his comeback as a starter after an injury - immediately put on a show by winning three consecutive fights on the right before serving Dos Santos deep into the box. The HCL trquartista enters the box and, left-footed, coolly beats Brecher for the 1-0 lead that makes Cornaredo explode.
After a first half devoid of further excitement, Zurich tried to fight back in the second half. In the 50th minute Krasniqi concludes from outside the box finding a deflection that grazes the crossbar. Lugano answered immediately two minutes later again with Zanotti, author of another percussion on the right flank: he returned on the left and shot that passed close to the post. Then, in the 56th minute, it was the crossbar that saved von Ballmoos on a powerful conclusion by Markelo, the biggest guest chance of the night.
As the minutes passed Lugano again became dangerous. In the 70th minute Alioski tried from the distance, without framing the goal, while two minutes later Papadopoulos came close to doubling the score with a header off Grgic's corner that was printed on the crossbar, equalizing the woodwork count.
In the final, it was still Croci-Torti's team that gave the feeling that they could close out the match. In the 87th minute Bislimi escapes on the right and serves a taut cross into the box for Marques, who attempts a heel deflection: the ball grazes the post and ends up on the bottom.
In the dying minutes, Zurich tried the final assault, but found a decisive von Ballmoos on its way: the HCL goalkeeper countered with two great reflex interventions that secured the result and guaranteed Lugano three precious points.
After five minutes of stoppage time, the triple whistle sanctions a well-deserved and convincing victory. FC Lugano regained success, defensive solidity and the right pace in the standings. Now the Bianconeri are expected on Sunday, October 26, in Geneva for the challenge against Servette, valid for the tenth day of the Brack Super League.
FC LUGANO - FC ZURICH 1-0
Brack Super League - Day 9
October 18, 2025 - Cornaredo Stadium
Spectators: 4450
Markers: 26' Dos Santos
FC LUGANO (4-2-3-1)von Ballmoos; Zanotti (83' Brault-Guillard), Papadopoulos, Mai, Alioski; Grgic, Blisimi; Cimignani, Dos Santos (77' Marques), Mahou (60' Belhadj); Behrens.
Available: Saipi, Cassano, Doumbia, El Wafi, Pihlström, Duville-Parsemain.
Coach: Mattia Croci-Torti.
FC ZÜRICH (4-3-3): Brecher; Comenencia (87' Tramoni), Segura, Kamberi, Rodić (65' Ligue); Krasniqi (87' Reverson), Palacio, Zuber; Phaëton (65' Emmanuel), Keny (76' Perea), Markelo
Available: Huber, Stork, Tsawa, Bangoura.
Coach: Mitchell van der Gaag
Referee: Alexander Dudic
Assistants: Pascal Hirzel and Christophe Loureiro
4th official: Hüseyin Sanli
VAR and AVAR: Johannes von Mandach and Hajrim Qovanaj
Admonished: Zuber (FCZ), Zanotti (LUG), Rodic (FCZ), Ligue (FCZ)