Against a stunning backdrop beneath the vaults of the AIL Arena – which was sold out for the first time since it opened (8,029 spectators in the stands and terraces) – Lugano and Young Boys contested the top-of-the-table clash on matchday eight of the Brack Super League. At the end of an intense match, which finished in a spectacular 2–2 draw (1–2), the two sides shared the points.
DOS SANTOS OPENS THE SCORING, ESSENDE AND FASSNACHT TURN IT AROUND
The special ‘charity’ match in aid of the Greenhope Foundation, featuring the lads coached by Mattia Croci-Torti – who was celebrated moments before kick-off to mark the fifth anniversary of his appointment as Bianconeri manager – dressed for the occasion in black with a prominent green ‘V’ on their chests – began with the home side immediately going on the attack, earning their first corner after just one minute of play. This immediately led to the opening goal. The move began with a lobbed pass from Anto Grgić to Dereck Moncada. After a couple of close-range attempts by the Honduran himself were blocked, along with another from Uran Bislimi, Antonios Papadopoulos played the ball into the path of Daniel Dos Santos, whose coordination was exemplary and whose finish found the bottom left-hand corner of Marvin Keller’s goal.
Possession was consistently in the home side’s favour, as they sought the right opening against an opponent who were excellently organised and who, making good use of their physicality, nipped the visitors’ attacking moves in the bud. It takes a right-footed shot from distance by Grgić in the thirteenth minute to rattle the yellow-and-blacks once again. However, the playmaker’s magical strike is denied by the post. At the other end, on his first foray forward, Alvyn Sanches sent a shiver down the spine of former goalkeeper David von Ballmoos with a low, diagonal shot that skimmed past the post. That chance seemed to rouse Gerardo Seoane’s men, just a couple of minutes before the substitution of the injured captain Renato Steffen for Elias Pihlström. However, it was still the Ticino side who looked the more dangerous. Halfway through the half, it was Hannes Delcroix’s turn to attempt a first-time volley, which Keller deflected onto the post.
The defensive focus of Bekhruz Karimov – watched from the stands by Paolo Cannavaro, brother of Fabio, the Uzbekistan national team manager, ahead of the upcoming international fixtures – and his team-mates remained high. A move initiated by the right-back himself created another chance, which Pihlström failed to capitalise on. On the counter-attack, the Bernese side levelled the score. Stefan Bukinac delivered a deep cross for Christian Fassnacht, who laid the ball back for Samuel Essende, who beat Lukas Mai to it and slotted the ball into a virtually unguarded net to make it 1–1. Both following the Ticino side’s lead and after the Swiss side’s equaliser, the match retained its high intensity. It showed no sign of letting up, and within the space of sixty seconds the Essende-Fassnacht duo came within a whisker of turning the score around. Only a decisive save by von Ballmoos – who was to be replaced by Felix Gebhardt at half-time – and a shot that grazed the post denied them the joy of a goal. That goal did eventually arrive, however, as the clock ticked rapidly towards the 45th minute. A bicycle kick from Alvyn Sanches eludes the bianconeri goalkeeper. Fassnacht pounced on the ball, showing no mercy and putting his side 2–1 ahead.
GEBHARDT COMES ON, ALIOSKI RETURNS AND AJETI EQUALISES
Upon returning from the changing rooms, the coaching staff were forced to make a second substitution. Felix Gebhardt, making his league debut after keeping goal in the first round of the Swiss Cup against Vedeggio, comes on for von Ballmoos. The excitement the crowd were hoping for clashed with the cautious approach of the two sides, both aware that a single mistake could undermine the tactics they had developed so far, one way or the other.
Whilst the overall momentum was ‘shifting’ in favour of the capital side, exactly halfway through the second half, the bianconeri’s third and fourth substitutions were made. Albian Ajeti, who shortly afterwards forced Keller into a low save, and the returning Ezgjan Alioski came on for Mai and Yanis Cimignani. The intention was to increase their presence in ‘zone three’, making life difficult for Loris Benito and his team-mates. Despite this, YB – who, for their part, brought on new signing Herba Guirassy – managed the narrow lead they had built up with their technical ability and tactical intelligence.
With so many attacking players on the pitch, exposure to the opposition’s counter-attacks is inevitable. However, the bianconeri’s determination and immense drive are such that, once they’ve shut out the Bernese, they throw themselves into attack with great resolve. Thus, thanks to Moncada’s pace and his precise cross into the six-yard box, the equaliser was scored by Ajeti (two goals in two appearances at the AIL Arena), the ‘penalty area’ specialist capable of sending the home crowd into a frenzy with around ten minutes to go before the final whistle. The home side wanted more and went in search of the winner, whilst continuing to keep the Roman side’s bursts of attack at bay. After four minutes of added time, this high-profile clash ended in a draw, with the points shared between the current first and second-placed teams in the Brack Super League.
Having fought hard to secure a point that keeps them unbeaten at the top of the table, three points clear of today’s opponents, FC Lugano now look forward to their rescheduled fourth-round fixture, also scheduled to take place at home on the evening of Wednesday 16 September 2026. The match against St. Gallen will kick off at 7.00 pm.
MATCH REPORT
Brack Super League, Matchday 8
Saturday 12 September 2026, AIL Arena – 8,029 spectators (sold out)
FC LUGANO - BSC YOUNG BOYS 2:2 (1:2)
GOALS: 2’ Dos Santos 1:0, 28’ Essende 1:1, 45’ Fassnacht 1:2, 80’ Ajeti 2:2.
FC LUGANO (3-5-1-1): von Ballmoos (46’ Gebhardt); Papadopoulos, Mai (67’ Ajeti), Delcroix; Karimov, Dos Santos, Grgić, Bislimi, Cimignani (68’ Alioski); Steffen (21’ Pihlström); Moncada (89’ Castro).
Substitutes: Kelvin, Kendouci, Bichsel, Ajdin.
Manager: Mattia Croci-Torti.
BSC YOUNG BOYS (4-2-3-1): Keller; Schmidt (46’ Blum), Lauper (86’ Jenz), Benito, Bukinac; Gigović (86’ Pech), Fernandes; Fassnacht, Sanches, Virginius (65’ Guirassy); Essende (81’ Sène).
Substitutes: Mall, Janko, Etoski, Tschanz.
Manager: Gerardo Seoane.
REFEREE: Nico Gianforte.
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Bastien Lengacher and Livio Aschwanden.
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Julian Müller.
VAR: Fedayi San.
AVAR: Mirel Turkes.
BOOKINGS: 49’ Mai, 61’ Lauper, 63’ Papadopoulos, 75’ Dos Santos, 90’ +4’ Keller.
Men's First TeamSeptember 12, 2026