- FC Luzern lost the first leg of the 3rd qualifying round of the Conference League against Hibernian Edinburgh 1:3.
- In an intense game, the central Swiss act too poorly on the defensive.
- The second leg will take place next Thursday in Lucerne.
The road to the group stage of the Conference League will be rocky for Lucerne. Instead of rewarding themselves for a courageous performance over long stretches in Edinburgh, Mario Frick’s team goes into the second leg in a week with a two-goal mortgage.
The goal conceded to make it 3-1, which Ardon Jashari initiated with an unnecessary and risky change of sides, was symbolic of an unfortunate performance. Substitute Jordan Obita was able to go alone on FCL goalie Pascal Loretz and scored to make it 3-1 for the home side.
Start in the 2nd half overslept
The first Lucerne goal was preceded by a mistake on the defensive. Only a few seconds were played in the second half when Martin Frydek allowed the ball to be stolen from his own penalty area. The ball landed at Joe Newell over several stations, who shot the “Hibs” 1-0 ahead. However, just in a phase of pressure from the Scots, the FCL equalized. After a corner kick, Ismajl Beka was forgotten, who was able to nod off unhindered to make it 1-1 (56′).
In a sometimes spiteful game, it was again the Scots who were able to submit. Hibernian scored the second thanks to the best combination of the game in the 72nd minute from Dutchman Dylan Vente. Template provider Adam Le Fondre had previously accepted the ball with the hoe.
Avoidable defeat
For Lucerne, the defeat would have been avoidable. Up front there were one or the other chance for more goals, such as that of Pius Dorn, who only hit the edge of the goal with his shot when the score was 1:2 in the 79th minute. However, the central Swiss also expressed their luck just a few minutes earlier when Christian Doidge’s shot hit the bar.
The second leg will take place in Lucerne next Thursday. Should the FCL decide the duel in their favour, Aston Villa would wait in the playoffs, the last qualifying round before the group stage.