- FC Lugano is in the cup final for the third time in a row.
- The Ticino team won their semi-final against Challenge League representatives Sion 2-0.
- Winterthur and Servette will face each other in the second semi-final on Sunday (4:10 p.m. live on SRF info).
FC Lugano is developing into a real cup specialist. Coach Mattia Croci-Torti’s team reached the final again after 2022 and 2023 and is aiming for its 5th cup victory on June 2nd.
The befitting 2-0 victory in the Tourbillon over FC Sion, where the cup traditionally enjoys a high status, came about through a calm but by no means outstanding performance. With the second goal, the guests also benefited from a controversial penalty whistle.
Sion with a furious start
The game started exactly to the taste of the Valais fans and the FC Sion management duo Christian and Barthélémy Constantin. The Challenge league team started like the fire department.
Dejan Sorgic forced Lugano keeper Amir Saipi into a save in the 3rd minute with a shot from the turn. Ali Kabacalman, Ilyas Choaref and Théo Berdayes tried in the following minutes.
Lugano only got better into the game after around a quarter of an hour. Lukas Mai with a header and Mattia Bottani, who narrowly missed a cross from Renato Steffen, created a goal threat in front of Sion keeper Timothy Fayulu.
Lugano strikes ice cold
The decision in this semi-final was made shortly before and shortly after the break:
- 45th minute: Zan Celar uses his heel to direct a cross from Ousmane Doumbia to Yanis Cimignani. The 22-year-old keeps going and the ball lands in the net with a strong spin, making it unstoppable for Fayulu. It is Cimignani’s 5th goal of the season, his 1st in the Cup.
- 50th minute: Doumbia and Sion’s Cristian Souza both go down after a challenge in the penalty area. Referee Urs Schnyder decides on a penalty, much to the dismay of the home team. Celar transformed.
Emotions ran high among the home fans, who subsequently called for a foul whistle for every Sion player who fell, as well as among President Constantin and coach Didier Tholot, who saw the yellow card.
The playful reaction of the people of Sion, however, was largely harmless. The lower class tried hard, but only a double chance from Reto Ziegler (outside net from an acute angle/72nd) and Sorgic (slid into a cross, Saipi directed the ball over the crossbar/74th) smelled of a possible 1:2. Ultimately, Lugano managed to maintain a comparatively confident lead over time.
Voices about the game
This is how it continues
The second semi-final between Winterthur and Servette will take place on Sunday on the Schützenwiese (4:10 p.m. live, SRF two). The final will take place on June 2nd in Wankdorf in Bern. Lugano’s next appearance is in the Super League game on May 4th at home against St. Gallen (live on SRF two). Challenge League leader Sion welcomes FC Wil on Friday.