FC Lugano claimed victory at St. Jakob-Park, beating FC Basel 1893 3–1 on Matchday 7 of the Brack Super League. After a goalless first half, the bianconeri conceded the opening goal to the Rhineland side early in the second half but responded decisively, turning the match around thanks to goals from Yanis Cimignani, Uran Bislimi and Ahmed Kendouci.
The victory allows Mattia Croci-Torti’s side to consolidate their top spot in the table: capitalising on Young Boys’ draw, Lugano move three points clear of the Bernese side, with a game in hand.
LUGANO DICTATE THE GAME
The opening stages saw FC Lugano gradually take control of the game and force Basel to defend in their own half. The hosts looked mainly to launch counter-attacks, relying on the pace of Asane Sow down the right flank.
The bianconeri’s first chance came in the 14th minute: following a corner, Grgić swung the ball into the box and Cimignani got his head to it well, but his effort narrowly missed the target.
Basel responded in the 33rd minute through Olaigbe, who tried to catch von Ballmoos off guard with a powerful right-footed shot from outside the box aimed at the near post. The bianconero goalkeeper was alert and parried the effort away.
Five minutes later came the clearest chance of the first half. Dos Santos won the ball back in the attacking third and struck with his left foot from the edge of the box: his shot beat Omlin but crashed against the post.
The half thus ended 0–0, with Lugano enjoying more possession and coming close to taking the lead, whilst Basel tried to create danger mainly through quick breaks.
THREE GOALS IN THE
SECOND HALF The second half began with a shock for the bianconeri. In the 47th minute, Sow accelerated down the wing and crossed the ball into the box for Metinho, who had come on after the break, to meet it; he deflected it into the net with his left foot to put Basel ahead.
The goal further upped the tempo of the match. Lugano pushed forward in search of an equaliser, whilst the home side sat deep and continued to pose a threat on the counter-attack.
The bianconeri’s response came in the 59th minute. Bislimi slipped the ball into the box for Steffen, who directed it towards the far post where Cimignani was waiting: the Frenchman struck it on the volley with his left foot, beating Salvi to make it 1–1.
Barely two minutes later, Lugano completed their comeback. Salvi misjudged his clearance and Bislimi intercepted the ball; seeing the goalkeeper off his line, he fired from distance into the unguarded net to make it 2–1. It was a particularly special goal for the number 25, who came through the Basel youth system.
In the 76th minute, the Rhinelanders had a chance to equalise. Otele cut inside from the left and aimed for the far post with a curling shot, but the ball struck the woodwork.
Lugano held firm and, in the 81st minute, found the goal that sealed the match thanks to two players who had only just come on. Bislimi played a through ball to Pihlström, who sent a low cross into the box: at the far post, Kendouci was on hand to make the winning deflection for 3–1.
Two minutes later, the bianconeri came close to a fourth goal as Papadopoulos beat everyone to the ball with a header, sending it just centimetres wide of the post.
The final whistle thus confirmed FC Lugano’s victory, as they were able to bounce back immediately from going behind and score three goals in the second half at St. Jakob-Park.
The bianconeri retain top spot in the Brack Super League and extend their lead over Young Boys to three points, whilst also having a game in hand. And it is precisely the Bernese side who will be their next opponents: the clash between the top two teams in the table is scheduled for Saturday 12 September at the AIL Arena.
MATCH REPORT
: FC BASEL 1893 v FC LUGANO 1–3
Brack Super League – Matchday
7, 6 September 2026 – St. Jakob-Park
Attendance: 28,415
Goalscorers: 47’ Metinho, 59’ Cimignani, 61’ Bislimi, 81’ Kendouci.
FC BASEL 1893 (4-3-3): Omlin (46’ Salvi); Tsunemoto, Daniliuc, Victory, Vouilloz; Harder (46’ Metinho), Omeragić, Thorell (46’ Shaqiri); Sow (84’ Malouda), Celar, Olaigbe (63’ Otele).
Substitutes: Rüegg, Bačanin, Doucoure, Koloto.
Manager: Stephan Lichtsteiner.
FC LUGANO (3-5-2): von Ballmoos; Papadopoulos, Mai, Delcroix; Karimov, Bislimi (90’ Ajdin), Grgić, Dos Santos (79’ Kendouci), Cimignani (90’ Carbone); Steffen (79’ Pihlström), Moncada (63’ Ajeti).
Substitutes: Gebhardt, Bichsel, Kelvin, Beckham Castro.
Manager: Mattia Croci-Torti.
Referee: Désirée Blanco
. Assistant referees: Linda Schmid and Susanne Küng
. Fourth official: Anojen Kanagasingam
. VAR and AVAR: Michèle Schmölzer and Johannes von Mandach
Booked: Moncada (LUG), Cimignani (LUG), Grgic (LUG), Bislimi (LUG), Pihlström (LUG).