FC Lugano headed to their winter break at the top of the Swiss Super League. Yet, their spirits dampened considerably following a disheartening 4-1 defeat against Lausanne-Sport on December 18, 2022, marking their first home loss since mid-August.
The Ticino side, led by coach Mattia Croci-Torti, faced the match with significant weariness, having already played over 30 games this season. Despite their first-place standing, the team could not remedy their shortcomings on the pitch against the determined Lausanne side.
Alvyn Sanches opened the scoring just ten minutes after kick-off, showcasing his talent with a brilliant goal. The 21-year-old midfielder connected with Koba Koindredi’s pass and elegantly danced around defenders before unleashing his shot from the edge of the penalty area, placing it perfectly past goalkeeper Amir Saipi.
Lausanne’s confidence grew after Sanches’ opener, and soon they were awarded two penalties. Both decisions came from fouls committed by Lugano defender Alban Hajdari. Veteran Noë Dussenne converted the first penalty smoothly just before halftime, sending Lugano to the break trailing 2-0.
After halftime, Lugano showed moments of promise and was able to cut the deficit to 2-1 when Kacper Przybylko scored from close range, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Lausanne. The goal, which came at 68 minutes, gave the home fans a fleeting hope.
Unfortunately for Lugano, the optimism quickly faded. The match turned sour when Dussenne returned to the spotlight to score the second penalty of the afternoon, making it 3-1. Kaly Sène capped the afternoon off with yet another penalty goal, this time at the 95th minute, finalizing the score at 4-1. For Lugano, this reaffirmed not only the disappointment of the match but also highlighted their vulnerabilities. Saipi lamented the trio of penalties awarded to Lausanne, expressing his frustrations post-match, "Maybe the referee wanted Lausanne to take another penalty against me today," he stated angrily.
Saipi continued, raising questions about the officiation, "We’re playing football, aren't we? We're not doing ballet!" The goalkeeper felt the decisions reflected poorly on the spirit of the game, where the players seemed too restrained by the strict officiation. Such sentiments were echoed by pundits, including former player Alex Frei, who critiqued the refereeing standards recently showcased within the league.
Despite the setback, Lugano retained their position at the top of the league, heading to the break with 31 points. Their lead remains delicate, as Lausanne-Sport, after this victory, moved to just one point behind. The match served as the last reminder for Lugano of the tough competition they face this season.
Moving forward, FC Lugano will need to address their defensive mistakes and regroup during the winter break. They already have their eyes set on the next challenge awaiting them: facing Pafos FC in the Conference League, scheduled for Thursday. Saipi issued this rallying cry: "We have to look ahead and make sure we can get the best out of Thursday." The team’s resilience will be tested as they prepare for the coming fixtures.
