The bianconeri women’s team, decimated by absences, returns from their away fixture in Zurich, where they faced bottom-of-the-table Oerlikon/Polizei, with a defeat that extends their run of poor results to seven. Yet, looking at how the match unfolded, it leaves a rather bitter taste in the mouth.
The match in Zurich began with the home side taking the lead, thanks to a generous gift from the Bianconeri defence. A throw-in from the byline towards the centre-back saw the ball return to goalkeeper Marta Gallesio, who was not expecting a back-pass, allowing Münever Akyol to pounce and make it 1–0. The lead was maintained until the referee’s half-time whistle.
Upon returning from the fifteen-minute break, the Lugano side settled into the opposition’s half, playing virtually the entire second half with a one-way attack. The equaliser scored by Josipa Dalić was the logical consequence of the pressure exerted by the visitors. However, barely a couple of minutes had passed when the home side, through Anouk Klaus, regained the lead. This time it proved decisive, despite there still being a good half-hour left to play.
The evening on the southern side of the Ticino ended on an even more negative note due to the straight red cards shown to Giorgia Zanaboni and Sabina Di Muro in stoppage time. The sanctions will in all likelihood cost both players the next two league fixtures.
This ninth setback of the season leaves the bianconeri in eleventh and penultimate place in the table on 4 points. Their opponents this evening are closing in, now just one point behind, whilst they are three points adrift of tenth-placed Gambarogno.
Having put a dreadful October behind them – a month in which they found the net three times whilst conceding fifteen – Melissa Colombo and her team-mates now face a home fixture. Under the floodlights at the Al Maglio Sports Centre in Canobbio, they will face Küssnacht a/R at 8.30 pm on Saturday 7 November 2026.
Meanwhile, manager Andrea Antonelli has, as usual, offered his customary post-match analysis: “We gifted the first goal but, apart from that incident where there was a misunderstanding, we played well in the opening period. The second half, on the other hand, was excellent. What we lacked, however, was the desire to finish and the hunger to find the back of the net. We created two or three clear-cut chances and failed to capitalise on them. The numerous absences we’re having to cope with? Of course, with all our players available, the chance to turn the match around is very real. Now, that’s a bit less the case. Nevertheless, the substitutes, and those who started the match, all did their bit for the team. Those who are here are giving their all. There’s little to complain about, other than a lack of ruthlessness in front of the opposition’s goal.”
MATCH REPORT
Women’s National League B 2026–2027, Matchday 11
Neudorf, Zurich
FC OERLIKON/POLIZEI ZH – FC LUGANO 2–1 (1–0)
GOALS: 12’ Akyol 1–0, 59’ Dalić 1–1, 61’ Klaus 2–1.
FC OERLIKON/POLIZEI ZH (3-2-4-1): Funke; Klaus, Rochaix, Ernst; S. Arpagaus, Franscini; Beck, Pérez, Akyol (46’ Herrmann), Bufalini; Da Silva Matias (83’ Tremml).
Substitutes: Ruggieri, F. Arpagaus, Zumbühl, Staub, Kohler, Andretta.
Manager: Alessandro Vicedomini.
FC LUGANO (4-3-3): Gallesio; Milosavljević (46’ Manca), Colombo, Zanaboni, Di Mauro; Aio (73’ Unternährer), Di Muro, Albertini; Oliva, Dalić, Andreoli.
Substitutes: Audrino, Rossi.
Manager: Andrea Antonelli.
REFEREE: Luca Wenger.
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Yasin Mert Uysal and Elia Caggiano.
BOOKINGS: 77’ Pérez, 77’ Albertini.
SENT OFF: 90’ +3’ Zanaboni, 90’ +3’ Di Muro.