FC Lugano comfortably beat KF Dukagjini to secure their place in the third qualifying round (Q3) of the UEFA Conference League. Following last week’s 1-0 win at the AIL Arena, the bianconeri ran out 5-1 winners at the Kampi Nacional Hajvali in Pristina, sealing a 6-1 aggregate victory over the two-legged tie.
Mattia Croci-Torti’s side took control of the match with two goals in the opening nine minutes and responded immediately to the home side’s attempt to fight back. Kevin Behrens was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick.
TWO GOALS IN NINE MINUTES
FC Lugano got off to a flying start and took the lead as early as the 6th minute. Grgić played a through ball to Behrens, who ran into space, beat the opposing goalkeeper Lekaj in a one-on-one and slotted the ball into the unguarded net.
Barely three minutes later, the bianconeri doubled their lead. Papadopoulos played Zanotti in down the right; the winger crossed the ball to the far post, where Dos Santos, left unmarked by the Kosovar defence, headed home to make it 2–0.
The fast-paced start continued, and in the 10th minute, Dukagjini pulled one back. Jeudi broke free on the edge of the box and shot towards goal: von Ballmoos parried, but Maliqi got to the ball first and made it 1–2.
Lugano, however, continued to find space. In the 25th minute, Steffen broke into the box with a solo run and fired a diagonal left-footed shot that struck the post squarely. The third goal eventually came in the 36th minute, and it was once again down to Behrens: Papadopoulos played a through ball to the German centre-forward, who controlled it with his chest and beat Lekaj once more.
Before half-time, Dukagjini tried to threaten again through Jeudi. The Haitian striker beat Mai with a feint and shot towards goal, only for von Ballmoos to make a quick save, tipping the ball away for a corner.
BEHRENS COMPLETES HIS HAT-TRICK
The second half began with FC Lugano still on the front foot. In the 52nd minute, Zanotti crossed from the right, Cimignani headed the ball back into the centre and Sinani, in an attempt to clear the box, deflected it into his own net to make it 1–4.
Seven minutes later, the fifth goal arrived. Bislimi made a deep run and played the ball to the far post, where Behrens slotted home into an empty net to complete his hat-trick.
Croci-Torti then made substitutions to manage the squad’s energy levels ahead of upcoming fixtures. In the closing stages, chances came thick and fast: Zanotti, Moncada, Beckham Castro and Cimignani all came close to scoring a sixth, but were unable to find the net.
The victory allows FC Lugano to continue their run in the competition. Their opponent in Q3, with the first leg scheduled for Thursday 6 August, will be decided by tomorrow evening’s match between NSÍ Runavík and FC Koper. Before that, the bianconeri’s focus returns to the league and Sunday’s match against Grasshopper Club Zürich.
MATCH REPORT
: KF DUKAGJINI – FC LUGANO 1–5 (agg. 1–6)
UEFA Conference League – Second qualifying round (Q2), second
leg 29 July 2026 – Kampi Nacional Hajvali, Pristina
Attendance: 500
Goalscorers: 6’ Behrens, 9’ Dos Santos, 10’ Maliqi, 36’ Behrens, 52’ own goal (Sinani), 59’ Behrens.
KF DUKAGJINI (4-3-3): Lekaj; Hugo, Basriu, Sinani (65’ Luan), Bardhoku (46’ Bytyqi); Peqeli, Gashi, Merlaku (46’ Elezaj); Maliqi, Jeudi (56’ Zulfiu), Isufi (65’ Thaci).
Substitutes: Haxhihamza, Hyseni, Zenunaj, Hoti, Syljemani, Krasniqi.
Manager: Arsim Thaqi.
FC LUGANO (3-4-2-1): von Ballmoos; Papadopoulos, Mai (62’ Kelvin), Bichsel; Zanotti, Grgić, Bislimi (61' Ajdini), Cimignani; Dos Santos (75' Castro), Steffen (62' Moncada); Behrens (62' Pihlström).
Substitutes: Ndiaye, Gebhardt, Delcroix, Alioski, Kendouci, Puddu, Raffa.
Manager: Mattia Croci-Torti.
Referee: Karel Roucek.
Assistant referees: Lukáš Machac and Matej Vlcek.
Fourth official: Pavel Orel.