As part of the 23rd matchday of the Hoval Promotion League, Lugano U21 travelled to the shores of Lake Lucerne to face their local rivals, Lucerne. At the end of the 90 minutes, the result favoured the Biancoblù, who came from behind to win 4–2 (3–2).
The first half-hour of the match was almost entirely dominated by the Bianconeri. Excellent build-up play allowed the visitors to score a quick one-two through Gjan Ajdin and Ilija Maslarov. Just when everything seemed to be going according to plan for Diego Mina and his teammates, an incredible and inexplicable fifteen-minute slump ensued, which the home side exploited to the full.
Sascha Meyer reignited the home side’s hopes of securing points just as the clock passed the half-hour mark. Another nine minutes passed and Dion Rujkovci, the other starting striker in Michel Renggli’s side, levelled the score. And that’s not all, as at the start of stoppage time Cédric Röösli completely turned the match on its head, sending himself and his teammates into the dressing room with an unexpected lead.
Upon returning from the half-time break, the Ticino side tried to impose their game, but failed once again to get past Lionel Huwiler. At the other end, with four minutes remaining in the ninety, Sandro Wyss sealed the deal with the team’s fourth goal.
“After a positive start, a spectacular blackout—for which it’s hard to find an explanation—basically cost us the match. Despite that, we stayed in the game right until the final moments, yet failed to find a way to leave the pitch with at least a point. We need to work specifically on this slump and ensure it doesn’t happen again in the future. Zurich U21? It’s never easy to face a youth side, especially when it’s the Tigris. Their pool of talent is so vast that they can select players from the U19s and bring them into the U21s for a couple of matches. In some ways, it’s easier to face a team of ‘seniors’, as the squad doesn’t change during the weeks,” said coach Andrea Vitali once the gruelling match at the Allmend had concluded.
With this bitter away fixture behind them, it is now time for the Bianconeri lads to look ahead to their next fixture, scheduled for Saturday 28 March 2026 at 15:00 at their home ground, the Centro Sportivo Al Maglio in Canobbio. Their opponents will be Zurich U21.
MATCH REPORT
Hoval Promotion League, Matchday 23
Sportanlagen Allmend, Lucerne
FC LUZERN U21 - FC LUGANO U21 4:2 (3:2)
GOALS: 16' Ajdin 0:1, 20' Maslarov 0:2, 31' Meyer 1:2, 40' Rujkovci 2:2, 45' +1' Röösli 3:2, 86' Wyss 4:2.
FC LUZERN U21 (4-1-2-1-2): Huwiler; van den Heuvel, Löfgren, Willimann, Röösli; Demi; Wyss (89' Tröster), Berisha (77' Matuanana); Lazri (64' Pouomo); Rujkovci (77' Xhemaili), Meyer (46' Kalauz).
Substitutes: Studer, Kukeli.
Manager: Michel Renggli.
FC LUGANO U21 (3-5-1-1): Mina; Gecaj (46' Chakor), Krueziu, Radić (74' Zurmühle); Ajdin (59' Raffa), Amirzade, Maslarov, Parente, Sbai; Puddu (59' Chiesa); Piffero (74' Tiraboschi).
Substitutes: Pellanda, Peverelli.
Manager: Andrea Vitali.
REFEREE: Déborah Anex.
ASSISTANTS: Melissa Correia and Sabrina Keinersdorfer.
BOOKINGS: 65' Chiesa, 74' Raffa, 87' Vitali.
Men's U21March 21, 2026