FC Lugano continue their perfect start to the UEFA Conference League. On Matchday 3 of the League Phase, the bianconeri beat FK Kauno Žalgiris 3-0 at the Lugano Arena, securing their third consecutive victory following wins against Red Star and Getafe. The match was decided by goals from Cimignani, Alioski and Dos Santos, all scored in the first half. Mattia Croci-Torti’s side thus move up to 9 points in the table, confirming their excellent form.
THREE GOALS IN HALF AN HOUR
Lugano started strongly and created their first chance in the 4th minute: Alioski played an inviting ball into the box, where Ajeti slid in but failed to direct his shot on target. Two minutes later, the visitors responded, coming close to taking the lead with a double chance. Debeljuh played a dangerous ball into the six-yard box, where Karimov beat Kreković to it at the last moment. From Edokpolor’s subsequent close-range effort, it was Papadopoulos who made a sliding save to prevent the goal.
Having weathered that scare, the bianconeri took the lead in the 11th minute. Kendouci won the ball back in the opposition’s half and played it to Dos Santos, who crossed from the left. Ajeti was unable to intervene, but Cimignani arrived at the far post, skilfully controlling the ball and beating Mikelionis with a precise left-footed finish.
The goal boosted the confidence of Croci-Torti’s side, who continued to press forward. In the 22nd minute, Dos Santos fired over from the edge of the box, whilst two minutes later they doubled their lead. From a cross by Cimignani from the right, Ajeti met the ball with a turning header that struck the crossbar. Alioski pounced on the rebound, controlled the ball on the edge of the box and unleashed a splendid left-footed volley, directing the ball into the top corner to make it 2–0.
Lugano maintained control of the game and made it three in the 32nd minute. Karimov found Dos Santos on the left with a precise long pass: the number 27 controlled the ball, cut inside onto his right foot and placed it at the far post, making it 3–0.
Before half-time, there was time for another chance for the bianconeri. In the 44th minute, Karimov once again won the ball back in an advanced position, cut into the box and aimed for the far post with a shot across goal that went just wide. The teams thus went into the break with Lugano three goals ahead, at the end of a first half in which Croci-Torti’s side displayed great attacking efficiency.
MANAGING THE SECOND HALF
The second half gets off to a much more measured start. Bolstered by their three-goal lead, Lugano controlled possession without forcing the play, whilst Kauno Žalgiris sought greater defensive solidity to limit the bianconeri’s attacks. The result was a second half with fewer chances, in which the home side nevertheless maintained control of the match.
It wasn’t until the 72nd minute that there was another significant chance, when Pihlström tried a shot from the edge of the box, only for Mikelionis to gather it in two attempts. Three minutes later, two more substitutes took centre stage: Grgić played a precise through ball to Behrens, who controlled it with his chest and struck a right-footed volley, forcing the Lithuanian goalkeeper into a superb save.
The visitors threatened in the 82nd minute with a left-footed shot from distance by Fiolić, which von Ballmoos saved in two attempts. Lugano, meanwhile, were looking for a fourth goal and, in the 85th minute, created another chance through Beckham Castro, who received the ball from Pihlström and shot with his left foot from the edge of the box, but failed to hit the target.
The score remained unchanged and FC Lugano ended the evening with a 3-0 victory, keeping a clean sheet in the process.
With this victory, the bianconeri have secured nine points out of a possible nine in the Conference League’s League Phase, with three matches still to play. Croci-Torti’s side also remain unbeaten this season, both in the league and in European competitions. Their next fixture is scheduled for Sunday in St. Gallen, an away match that brings to a close an intense run of eight matches in 28 days, before the international break.
MATCH REPORT
FC LUGANO v FK KAUNO ŽALGIRIS 3–0
UEFA Conference League – Group Stage, Matchday
3, 5 November 2026 – Lugano Arena
Attendance: 5,429
Goalscorers: 11’ Cimignani, 24’ Alioski, 32’ Dos Santos.
FC LUGANO (3-4-2-1): von Ballmoos; Papadopoulos, Mai (46’ Kelvin), Marques; Karimov, Bislimi (70’ Grgić), Kendouci, Alioski; Cimignani (76’ B. Castro), Dos Santos (46’ Pihlström); Ajeti (70’ Behrens).
Substitutes: Gebhardt, Mina, Zanotti, Bichsel, Raffa.
Manager: Mattia Croci-Torti.
FK KAUNO ŽALGIRIS (5-4-1): Mikelionis; Moutachy (80’ Sirgėdas), Lekatas, Tolordava, Hernández, Edokpolor; Benchaib (46' Karashima), Slivka, Kalik (61' Kastrati), Kreković (46' Burba); Debeljuh (61' Fiolić).
Substitutes: Švedkauskas, Ribeiro, Ourega, Pocius, Užkurys.
Manager: Željko Sopić.
Referee: Yigal Frid (ISR)
Assistant referees: Tuval Koltunoff and Rostislav Talis (ISR)
Fourth official: Yoav Avraham Mizrachi (ISR)
VAR and AVAR: Eitan Shmuelevitz and Eliyahu Casapu (ISR)
Booked: Kalik (KAU), Tolordava (KAU), Kelvin (LUG).