FC Lugano Women kicked off their 2026–2027 Women's National League B season with a narrow defeat, conceding only from a penalty in the closing stages of the match away at Küssnacht a/R.
At the Sportplatz Luterbach, the bianconeri girls put in a commendable performance, showing total commitment in terms of both tactics and attitude. It is a real shame to come away empty-handed due to a 90th-minute penalty, converted by the home side’s striker Mara Studer. For the specific reasons just described, there is nothing to fault the players for; their squad included six players from Team Ticino. Three of them even earned a place in the starting line-up. Looking ahead to the upcoming fixtures, there is much to take from this, in addition to the performance delivered and the team spirit shown.
Having put this first away fixture in the Canton of Schwyz behind them, albeit with a touch of bitterness, Coach Andrea Antonelli’s charges are now preparing for their home debut, scheduled for Saturday 15 August 2026 at 8.30 pm against the newly promoted FFV Basel. The clash with the Rhineland side will take place at the Bianconeri’s new home ground, namely the main pitch at the Al Maglio Sports Centre in Canobbio.
Meanwhile, the manager of the Ticino women’s side offers the following analysis of what he observed during the opening ninety minutes of the new season: “The Team Ticino girls’ debut was truly excellent. The established players helped the newcomers, and the newcomers in turn supported their new teammates. Everyone settled into their roles without any stage fright, taking on board the advice given to them. As for the match itself, it was a really positive performance; we put into practice on the pitch what we’d prepared during the week. Then came that incident in the closing stages which cost us the match.”
MATCH REPORT
Women’s National League B 2026–2027, Matchday 1
Sportplatz Luterbach, Küssnacht am Rigi
FC KÜSSNACHT a/R – FC LUGANO FEMMINILE 1–0 (0–0)
GOALSCORER: 90’ Studer 1–0 (penalty).
FC KÜSSNACHT A/R (4-3-3): Beetschen; Hongler, Steiner, Häring, Troxler (71’ Suma); Pirker, Lourenço Rodrigues (85’ Flury), Scherrer; Vogl (71’ Müller), Schillinger, Studer (90’+1’ Carbone).
Substitutes: Kottmeyer, Sommerhalder, Mazzurco.
Manager: Michel Neugel.
FC LUGANO WOMEN (4-1-4-1): Gallesio; Cuitino (36’ Aio), Colombo, Zanaboni, Rossi (64’ Bello); von Ballmoos; Oliva, Negri, Albertini, Croci; Milosavljević.
Substitutes: Audrino, Casari.
Manager: Andrea Antonelli.
REFEREE: Ilyas Özmen.
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Kevin Vidal and Adriano Barone.
Women's First TeamAugust 8, 2026