FC Lugano beat NSÍ Runavík 2–0 in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. At the AIL Arena, Elias Pihlström and Kevin Behrens scored in the first and second halves respectively.
The bianconeri have thus built up a two-goal lead ahead of the return leg, scheduled to take place in a week’s time in the Faroe Islands. Before their European fixture, however, Mattia Croci-Torti’s side return to action on Sunday at 2.00 pm, when FC Zurich visit the AIL Arena for Matchday 3 of the Brack Super League.
PIHLSTRÖM OPENS THE SCORING EARLY
Lugano started aggressively and took just seven minutes to take the lead. Pihlström linked up quickly with Cimignani, received the return pass inside the box, beat his direct opponent and fired a right-footed shot into the corner. Having scored his first goal for the bianconeri on Sunday against Grasshopper CZ, the Swede struck again just four days later to make it 1–0.
NSÍ tried to respond in the 13th minute, when Nolsøe received the ball on the edge of the box and shot towards goal, only for von Ballmoos to make a confident save. At the other end, Steffen first aimed for the far post with a curling shot that went wide by a matter of centimetres, whilst shortly afterwards he played a through ball to Dos Santos: the number 27 entered the box and tested Amos with a left-footed shot.
The bianconeri continued to control the game and, in the 32nd minute, Bislimi rewarded Steffen’s run with a through ball, though his volley went straight down the middle. After an intense start, the pace slowed and Lugano tried to manage possession without regaining the same incisiveness they’d shown in the opening minutes.
In the 39th minute, the visitors’ most dangerous chance arrived. Benjaminsen crossed from the left for Przybylski, who beat everyone to the ball with a header and sent it just a few centimetres wide of the post.
PRESSURE AND DOUBLE
TEAMING Lugano returned to the pitch aiming to extend their lead, but the Faroese side defended in an organised manner and used their physicality to protect their penalty area. In the 70th minute, Joensen picked up a clearance from the defence and shot from the edge of the box, only to be denied by Kelvin.
Two minutes later, Papadopoulos, who had just come on, curled a right-footed shot towards the near post following a corner, but Amos intervened to keep the score at 1–0. Juventus’ pressure intensified further in the 78th minute: Steffen crossed from the left and Moncada headed against the post. From the resulting corner, Grgić swung the ball into the box for Delcroix, who rose highest and directed his effort towards goal. The shot was cleared off the line by a visiting defender, with the ball also striking the crossbar.
The second goal came in the 80th minute, following a period of intense pressure. Zanotti made a run down the right and delivered a low cross into the centre of the box, where Behrens got a winning deflection to make it 2–0.
The score remained unchanged. FC Lugano ended the first leg with a two-goal lead and are now preparing for their next league fixture, ahead of their decisive away match in the Faroe Islands.
MATCH REPORT
: FC LUGANO v NSÍ RUNAVÍK
– UEFA Conference League – Third qualifying round, first
leg, 6 August 2026 – AIL Arena
Attendance: 3,328
Goalscorers: 7’ Pihlström, 80’ Behrens.
FC LUGANO (3-4-2-1): von Ballmoos; Zanotti, Kelvin, Delcroix; Cimignani (72’ Papadopoulos), Bislimi, Kendouci (61’ Grgić), Pihlström (82’ Beckham Castro); Steffen, Dos Santos (61’ Moncada); Behrens.
Substitutes: Gebhardt, Ndiaye, Mai, Bichsel, Carbone, Gjan Ajdin, Puddu, Raffa.
Manager: Mattia Croci-Torti.
NSÍ RUNAVÍK (5-3-2): Amos; Elisson, Drinic, Obbekjær, Davidsen, Benjaminsen; Nolsøe, Joensen, Przybylski (77’ Hestad); Lindh (85’ M. Danielsen), Skytte.
Substitutes: Kristian Joensen, D. Danielsen, Tróndargjógv, Klæmint Olsen.
Manager: Sigurður Ragnar Eyjólfsson.
Referee: Viktor Kopievskiy
. Assistant referees: Victor Nyzhnyk and Semen Shlonchak
. Fourth official: Dmytro Kubryak
. VAR and AVAR: Denys Shurman and Oleksandr Shandor