Matchday 33 of the 2025–2026 Hoval Promotion League season saw FC Lugano U21 pick up a point following a 2–2 comeback draw against their local rivals Lausanne U21, who, for their part, are leaving the division after a single season.
Forced to win to keep their hopes of survival alive – a status the bianconeri had already secured a couple of weeks earlier – the Vaudois side started the match better, played under the scorching sun at Maglio di Canobbio. The visitors took the lead immediately, scoring after just eight minutes from the first chance of the match. Following a cross from the right, Evan Franchi rose highest and, with a precise header, directed the ball into the bottom left corner past Ahmadou Ndiaye, who could do nothing to prevent the ball from ending up in the back of his net. The side led by Massimo Ceccaroni maintained control of proceedings and, aided by a home side that appeared to have run out of steam, tried to double their lead with a free-kick from Adrian Dalliard that went over the bar and a double attempt by the same player, blocked on both occasions.
In a first half in which Andrea Vitali’s charges struggled to pose a threat to Emilien Grosso, the main highlight was a terrible head-to-head collision between Gjan Ajdin and Eren Ozcan. The two players returned to the pitch after a three-minute interruption, but were forced to throw in the towel at half-time, remaining in the changing rooms to avoid aggravating the situation. As for the closing moments of the first half, there was a set-piece from Maksim Milovanović that went just wide, a free-kick from Jason Parente that hit the wall, and a curling right-footed shot from Milovanović himself that missed the target.
The second half began with a mistake by the Ticino side as they came off their line. Oscar Renovales tried to capitalise, but Ndiaye was on hand to save, as he was for Frestim Gaxheri’s subsequent right-footed effort. In the 53rd minute, the home side went on the attack again with a corner from Parente. Aleksandar Radić met it with a powerful header that missed the target by a matter of centimetres. The Romands remained dangerous on the counter-attack and came very close to doubling their lead on one such occasion, but Franchi fired the excellent team chance they had created over the bar. The next chance fell to the newly-introduced Jeremie Barererwa who, following a cross from the byline resulting from a moment of magic by Teo Jashari over Yuri Peverelli, failed to find the net.
Barely sixty seconds later, Dalliard conjures up a gem of a shot (a superb strike at mid-height) to make it 2-0 to his side. At this point, the Lugano coaching staff opt for a triple substitution all at once. The introduction of Yassin Sbai, Besart Shabanaj and Rron Krueziu in place of the very young Bryan Zurmühle, Tobia Donnini and Leon Gervasini increased the home side’s attacking pressure. Shortly afterwards, a pinpoint cross from Shabanaj swept across the entire goalmouth without any of his teammates getting a touch.
The match then reached the 80th minute and a gem of a free-kick from captain Ilija Maslarov, who sent the entire stadium into raptures with a left-footed strike into the top corner from the right-hand corner of the penalty area. The vulnerability to counter-attacks was a consequence of pushing the defensive line higher up the pitch. Three minutes later, Renovales takes centre stage with a solo run culminating in a shot that crashes against the crossbar and bounces back over the line. With the danger averted, a corner from Parente finds Radić, who flicks it on for Peverelli, who, perfectly positioned at the far post, strikes it flat, sending the ball into the net. The 2-2 scoreline seemed not enough for the Ticino side, who, through the same No. 11, could have completely turned the score on its head. His spectacular curling left-footed effort struck the crossbar and then the post in quick succession.
The drama didn’t end there, as Arbnor Gecaj, already on a booking, ended his match (and consequently his season) with a second yellow card and the resulting sending-off. Being a man down for a limited period did not affect the draw, which remained 2-2 until referee Marc Mischler blew the final whistle.
This draw allows Lugano U21 to climb to 35 points, remaining in 15th place, one point behind Kreuzlingen from Thurgau, the bianconeri youngsters’ next and final opponents of the season. The match is scheduled for 4.00 pm on Saturday 30 May 2026 at the Sportanlage Hafenareal.
As usual, the final word goes to the manager of Lugano’s second team, Andrea Vitali: ‘It was a classic end-of-season match. They had everything to play for, whereas we had far less at stake. Our approach was anything but ideal. But then we recovered and secured a draw that reflects the course of the match. Even after the stunning goal that made it 2-0, we never gave up. The important thing is that the lads didn’t want to lose. The home record for the season? It’s been two different campaigns. The first half of the season was very positive, whilst in the second half the team’s form dipped. However, we brought in a number of young players. It was the right move, not least because we managed to achieve our goal of avoiding relegation.”
MATCH REPORT
Hoval Promotion League, Matchday 33
Al Maglio Sports Centre, Canobbio – 150 spectators
FC LUGANO U21 – FC LAUSANNE-SPORT U21 2:2 (0:1)
GOALS: 8' Franchi 0:1, 58' Dalliard 0:2, 80' Maslarov 1:2, 85' Peverelli 2:2.
FC LUGANO U21 (3-4-2-1): Ndiaye; Gecaj, Maslarov, Radić; Peverelli, Ajdin (46' Riva), Gervasini (62' Krueziu), Donnini (62' Shabanaj); Raffa, Parente; Zurmühle (62' Sbai).
Substitutes: Pellanda, Heller.
Manager: Andrea Vitali.
FC LAUSANNE-SPORT U21 (4-1-2-1-2): Grosso; Jashari, N'Diaye, Asani, Gaxheri; Mandaka; Ozcan (46' Karadolami), Milovanović (90' +4' Salihu); Dalliard (75' Abdeljaoued); Franchi (56' Barererwa), Renovales.
Substitutes: Saudan.
Manager: Massimo Ceccaroni.
REFEREE: Marc Mischler.
ASSISTANTS: Samuel Ringeisen and Serdar Sönmez.
BOOKINGS: 56' Gecaj, 62' Donnini, 88' Gecaj, 90' +3' Mandaka, 90' +6' N'Diaye.
SENT OFF: 88' Gecaj.
Men's U21May 23, 2026