A solid performance throughout the match failed to yield any points for the Lugano women’s side, who were beaten 1–2 (0–1) by Wil on home turf at the Centro Sportivo Al Maglio in Canobbio.
The bianconeri’s return to home fixtures following a two-week break for international duty began with a rather protracted period of feeling each other out against an opponent firmly established in the upper-mid-table. The first attempt on goal came from Sabina Di Muro who, following a one-two with Aline Oliva, tested Rebecca Schubert’s reflexes; the goalkeeper stretched to tip the midfielder’s diagonal shot round the post for a corner. From that moment on, the action unfolded at a steady pace. After a left-footed shot from Fabienne Dörig went over the bar, Martina Gallesio made a decisive save, blocking Mona Gubler’s close-range effort, just before her team-mates made another block against the St Gallen No. 17. Subsequently, Jennifer Wyss and Jasmin Colombo both failed to hit the target, whilst at the other end Mathilda Andreoli – the architect of an excellent counter-attack – failed to trouble Schubert with a weak right-footed effort. The same happened to Oliva shortly afterwards.
With around ten minutes to go before half-time, Gallesio produced another crucial save from Gubler’s shot following a mistake by Giorgia Zanaboni. The ensuing play, however, proved costly for the home side, as Melissa Colombo brought down Gubler herself, conceding a penalty to the visitors. From the spot, Dörig curled the ball perfectly, leaving the Lugano goalkeeper with no chance; although she guessed the direction, she was unable to get a hand to the ball. The match could have immediately got back on track for the Ticino side. Andreoli’s pressing put the Swiss-German goalkeeper under pressure; the ball fell to Josipa Dalić, who missed the target with a right-footed volley. Towards the end of the half, Di Muro also had a go, but her shot was weak and straight down the middle.
After returning from the changing rooms, the Bianconeri pushed even higher up the pitch. Colombo’s dangerous free-kick from the wing (with no one to challenge her in the five-metre box) and Oliva’s right-footed shot across goal, which went just wide after being set up by Andreoli following a superb ball recovery, were a foretaste of what was to come in the 50th minute. Sara Di Mauro tenaciously won possession in the final third, laid the ball off to Andreoli, who in turn played it out to Oliva on the left. The No. 11 advanced, dribbled past an opponent and, with a shot across goal, found the back of the far ‘7’ for a truly spectacular goal.
Just as in the first half, the second half saw play swing from one end of the pitch to the other without a moment’s pause. And so, just before the hour mark, Colombo elegantly intercepted an attacking run by Dörig, who had set off alone towards the Sottocenerina penalty area. Moments later, Dörig made amends with interest, firing a diagonal shot from inside the box that found the bottom left-hand corner of Gallesio’s net. Gallesio could have done nothing to stop Jessica Schärer’s long-range effort, which struck the top of the crossbar. The subsequent shot-cum-cross from Lara Milosavljević was comfortably gathered by Schubert, whilst Zanaboni and Gallesio thwarted attempts by Gubler and Dörig respectively. The home side’s final chance fell to the evening’s only substitute, Chiara Manca, whose right-footed shot from Oliva’s assist proved predictable and easy to read for the away goalkeeper. The final scare came from the bianconeri when Wyss’s shot from twenty-five metres struck the crossbar.
This setback, Lugano’s seventh of the season, leaves Coach Andrea Antonelli’s side in eleventh and penultimate place in the table on 4 points. Their next fixture is scheduled to take place at the Al Maglio Sports Centre in Canobbio against the unbeaten league leaders, Thun. The match will be played on Wednesday 21 October 2026, kicking off at 7.45 pm.
Before throwing themselves heart and soul into the clash with the Bernese side, however, the women’s team manager is taking the time to analyse the recent ninety minutes of play: “It’s a shame, because we always take to the pitch with enthusiasm, determination and team spirit. We proved that once again on this occasion, as we kept pushing into their box right until the end in search of an equaliser. We didn’t manage it, but we’ll build on the great performance we put in and our strong desire to get out of this situation. It’s not easy, but we must believe in the work we’re doing, and we’re certain we’ll reap some rewards. In terms of performance, we’ve been aware for a while now that we can put this run without points behind us. The results, at the moment, aren’t rewarding us and are being unfairly harsh on the girls. Seeing them play this sort of match and not get a positive result hurts even more. Thun? They’re a powerhouse and it’ll be a very tricky match. We’ll have to try to replicate our performance against Wil with a bit more composure in certain situations. We’re resting today, whilst tomorrow and Tuesday we’ll prepare as usual. I can see the desire and determination in the girls. We must – and we have a duty to – play our own game, always believing in ourselves. Can we repeat the feat we achieved in Sion? I’m convinced we’ll get the approach to the match right. That gives me cause for optimism. In Valais, we managed to take all three points. We always give it our all, and we’ll do the same on Wednesday against a very formidable side that’s well-equipped to stay at the top of the table.”
MATCH REPORT
Women’s National League B 2026–2027, Matchday 9
Al Maglio Sports Centre, Canobbio – 300 spectators
FC LUGANO – FC WIL 1900 FRAUEN 1:2 (0:1)
GOALS: 35’ Dörig 0:1 (penalty), 50’ Oliva 1:1, 61’ Dörig 1:2.
FC LUGANO (4-3-3): Gallesio; Milosavljević, M. Colombo, Zanaboni, Di Mauro; Aio (63’ Manca), Di Muro, von Ballmoos; Oliva, Dalić, Andreoli.
Substitutes: Audrino, Unternährer, Croci, Negri, Rossi, Suterio.
Manager: Andrea Antonelli.
FC WIL 1900 WOMEN (4-1-4-1): Schubert; Schärer, Benneckenstein, Schneider, Di Gaetano (63' Bischof); Gubler; J. Colombo (63’ Lämmler), Wyss, Dörig (83’ Canolli), Kressig (83’ Hacker); Brecht (42’ Iselin).
Substitutes: Bischofberger, Martin, Kaufmann.
Manager: Markus Wanner.
REFEREE: Claudio Kaiser.
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Michael Inäbnit and Azmen Bünül.
BOOKINGS: 55' Milosavljević, 81' Manca.