Suffering their third consecutive setback – their fifth so far this season – FC Lugano Femminile failed to find the net once again at the end of their home match against Winterthur.
It’s a real shame for the Bianconeri, who lack that little bit of quality in front of goal to capitalise on the volume of play they generated over the ninety minutes. As manager Andrea Antonelli confirmed in the post-match interview, it is precisely this factor that proves decisive between a win and a defeat.
Let’s start, however, with a recap of the match against the Zurich side, which was played in a very fair manner, as reflected by the fact that the referee issued no bookings. In the seventh minute, a brilliant pass from Aline Oliva for debutant Chiara Manca failed to yield the desired result due to the attacking winger’s pass being too strong as it headed towards the centre-forward. The Zurich side, physically superior, responded within the space of a minute with a diagonal shot from Elena van Niekerk, which was confidently saved low down by Martina Gallesio.
Between the 11th and 12th minutes, it was the turn of Fiona Hubler (whose ‘fumbled’ shot was easily read by the home goalkeeper) and Greta Aio (a weak left-footed effort following a superb run down the left by Mathilda Andreoli for Oliva) to have their names entered in the match record. The first half, played in an organised manner by the home side, offered another chance to open the scoring at the thirty-seven-minute mark. A pass from Antonella Albertini to Michelle Unternährer resulted in a cross from the latter, which led to an unintentional headed assist from Sabina Di Muro to Andreoli, whose right-footed shot from the edge of the box was deflected for a corner.
The second half was also fiercely contested, with chances for both sides. First, Alessandra Malacarne tried a first-time volley – which flew over the bar – and then Andreoli took centre stage once more. Set up by the tireless Oliva, the number 7 aimed for the target but was blocked, resulting in a corner. Yet another attacking run by Oliva, who had done some excellent groundwork, sent Albertini through to shoot with her left foot, but her effort went just wide.
Whilst the play was evenly balanced, bad luck came into play and struck the Lugano side. A long ball from Malacarne was intercepted by Giorgia Zanaboni, who beat Gallesio to the ball and put the ball into her own net, opening the scoring. The lead spurred the visitors on, and they came close to doubling their lead on two occasions through Simona Caviezel (whose left-footed shot from a promising position went well wide) and Hubler (another left-footed effort, this time grazing the post).
Speaking of bad luck, striker Esther Nicolussi – who had come on for her team-mate Manca in the 71st minute – was forced to leave the pitch just eight minutes later due to a muscle injury. After two chances created by Caviezel and Tuana Sertbas, the Swiss side sealed the 2–0 victory – and with it, all three points – with a splendid left-footed strike from 16 metres by Arianita Sallauka, which found the top corner. Around the 90th minute, Di Muro could have brought the game back into contention (beating the onrushing goalkeeper, but the ball went wide), whilst Caviezel came close to scoring a third (Gallesio was alert to block her close-range effort).
At the end of matchday seven of the Lega Nazionale B, FC Lugano Femminile sit in eleventh and penultimate place in the table on 4 points. The league will now take a break – the team from the southern Ticino region will return to action on Saturday 3 October with an away match at Schlieren – to make way for the second round of the Swiss Cup. On Sunday 27 September 2026, kicking off at 4.30 pm, once again on the main pitch at the Al Maglio Sports Centre in Canobbio, Melissa Colombo and her team-mates will face Basel, currently fifth in the AXA Women’s Super League and fresh from a surprising 2–2 home draw against Rapperswil-Jona.
With that match on the horizon, manager Andrea Antonelli analyses his team’s current form as follows: “We were very organised on the pitch, taking virtually no risks until the own-goal incident. In fact, just before that we had a big chance that we failed to capitalise on. There’s a lot of frustration, because the team gave everything they had. This lack of results is taking its toll, given that the commitment and attitude in every match are total. Unfortunately, that’s just how it’s going at the moment. We need to keep our heads up, work hard and try to improve. Rather than a lack of clinical finishing, I’d say we’re lacking a bit of quality in our final passes and final moves. In this match too, we made quite a few technical errors, especially with the simplest passes, which may seem insignificant but make all the difference. The Swiss Cup match against Basel? It’s a match we must prepare for just like any other, because it’s a fixture that has to be played. I’m sure our attitude will be just as proactive as it has been in every match so far. Of course, when you face a side like the Rhinelanders in our current frame of mind, it’s not easy. I’m certain that, in terms of attitude and tactical acumen, the girls will manage to hold their own.”
MATCH REPORT
Women’s National League B, Matchday 7
Al Maglio Sports Centre, Canobbio – 200 spectators
FC LUGANO – FC WINTERTHUR 0–2 (0–0)
GOALS: 64’ Zanaboni 0–1 (own goal), 83’ Sallauka 0–2.
FC LUGANO (4-1-4-1): Gallesio; Di Mauro, Colombo, Zanaboni, Unternährer; Albertini; Oliva, Aio (46’ Calatti), Di Muro, Andreoli; Manca (71’ Nicolussi/79’ Dalić).
Substitutes: Audrino, von Ballmoos, Negri, Rossi, Milosavljević.
Manager: Andrea Antonelli.
FC WINTERTHUR (4-3-3): Voit; Malacarne, Dahinden, Hürlimann, La Bella (46’ Lampart); von Allmen, Sertbas, Huber (70’ Hedwig Dür); Hubler (86’ Stoob), van Niekerk (76’ Sallauka), Sigrist (70’ Caviezel).
Substitutes: Bachmann.
Manager: Damiano Russo.
REFEREE: Gentian Ramosaj.
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Roberto Carlos Fernandes Pereira and Vedat Varlik.