- Lugano loses its 4th group game in the Conference League at Brugge 0-2.
- Igor Thiago’s 1-0 came after a controversial penalty decision.
- In the other game in Group D, Bodö/Glimt defeated Besiktas 1-2 away.
Tajon Buchanan entered the penalty area at speed – and landed on the Belgian turf almost even faster. Lugano’s Mohamed Mahmoud had jostled the Canadian Bruges wing. Referee Tamas Bognar immediately pointed to the spot. The contact was only light, but due to the speed it was probably a decisive factor in Buchanan’s fall.
In any case, it was a strictly whistled penalty. Igor Thiago wasn’t interested in that: The Brazilian scored confidently, ending his personal goal drought and giving Bruges a 1-0 lead in the 62nd minute.
Legend:
Motzt lying on the floor
Bruges Tajon Buchanan.
Keystone/AP/Frederic Sierakwoski
“Own goal” of the Lugano Wall
Things got even worse for the guests from Ticino in the 85th minute: another Bruges player, Ferran Jutgla, was down in the penalty area and there was another penalty. Jhon Espinoza’s arm had probably remained on Jutglas’s shoulder for a little too long, but this decision was still tough. At least the person who was fouled immediately showed compassion and circled the ball next to the goal.
Despite 8 minutes of stoppage time, Lugano was no longer able to react – on the contrary: in the final seconds, a free kick from Bruges captain Hans Vanaken was deflected unstoppably by the away wall into the goal to make it 2-0. The Ticino team also lost their second duel against the Belgians. They remain in third place in the table and now have to worry about surviving the European winter.
Bislimi with bad luck – Saipi required
Lugano held its own for a long time against the favored hosts with a market value 5 times higher. Due to various offensive absences, too little progress was made. Uran Bislimi probably had the best chance after 72 minutes: his shot from close range was deflected out of bounds by several Belgian legs.
At the back, Lugano’s goalie Amir Saipi had to save several times from the conspicuous Philip Zinckernagel and was lucky when Jutgla shot off the post (82′).
This is how it continues
Earlier in the evening, Bodö/Glimt beat Besiktas 2-1 in the second game of Group D. The match winner was double goalscorer Faris Moumbagna.
Lugano will be back to everyday Super League life on Sunday: the Ticino team will host the FCZ at home. In the Conference League, Luganesi will face Bodö/Glimt away (November 30th) and play at home against Besiktas (December 14th).