FC Lugano in the cup semi-finals

Football: Lugano narrowly prevails in the cup in Thun

(sda) Thanks to a lucky 4:3 win in Thun, FC Lugano completes the semi-finals in the Swiss Cup. Yverdon (Challenge League), St. Gallen and Lucerne advanced on Tuesday and Wednesday.

With gala performances against the Grasshoppers (1-0) and Servette (4-1), Thun had reached the quarter-finals. Another exploit succeeded against Lugano, only this time the Bernese didn’t reward themselves at the end of this gripping cup fight.

Thun, who had defeated FC Wil 3-0 at the start of the second half of the season despite the departure of top scorer Saleh Chihadeh, made up for a 0-2 deficit against Lugano and at times dominated the fourth in the Super League in the second half. Even after the 2:4 nine minutes before the end, Thun didn’t give up. However, it was no longer enough to turn the tide.

Lugano prevailed because they got off to a flying start – and because they kept their patience in the second half. After 13 minutes and two goals within less than two minutes, the guest led 2-0.

But Thun also played big in front of almost 4000 spectators. The lower classes had opportunities to take a 3-2 lead through Alexander Gerndt and Pius Dorn. But Lugano waited patiently for Thun’s mistakes to occur. Jonathan Sabbatini (73′) and Sandi Lovric (81′) gave Lugano a 4-2 lead. And Gerndt, the ex-Luganese, only managed to get the goal back with a converted foul penalty in the 84th minute.

Lugano is in the semi-finals of the cup for the first time in six years. And the Ticino rise from the role of favorites in this round. Lugano have only lost four of their last 16 competitive games – three times against the Young Boys and once against Basel. And these teams have long since been eliminated from the cup.

In the semi-finals of the Swiss Cup, Lugano will play against the title holder Lucerne and Yverdon against St. Gallen. The games will take place from April 19th to 21st.

Tennis: Belinda Bencic easily in the quarterfinals

(sda) At the WTA 500 tennis tournament in St. Petersburg, Belinda Bencic is in the quarterfinals. The 24-year-old beats Slovenian Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-6.

After winning the starting set, in which Belinda Bencic (WTA 24) had been able to take the serve three times from her opponent, who had qualified for the tournament, the task became more complicated. Bencic gave up her third game in the second set, but managed the re-break to make it 4:4. Juvan then fought his way into the tie-breaker, in which Bencic was able to use their first match point after 80 minutes. For the Swiss, the first victory is in the second encounter with the 21-year-old Slovenian. The only duel they had won so far was in the first round of Wimbledon 2021 6: 3, 6: 3.

Estonian Anett Kontaveit is now waiting in the quarter-finals on Friday. Bencic has lost twice to world number 9, most recently in September 2021 in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Formula 1: Verstappen unveils the new Red Bull car

(sda/dpa) Max Verstappen presented the new racing car for the upcoming Formula 1 season 59 days after winning the world championship. The RB18 was presented online in Milton Keynes, UK on Wednesday. “I’m just looking forward to sitting in the car and driving,” said Verstappen: “I feel good, but a lot is unknown about the new car. That’s why I’m also curious to see how the new car drives.”

Due to the rule changes, which are intended to make overtaking easier and thus ensure even more spectacle on the tracks, the look of the new Red Bull has also changed significantly compared to the 2021 model. The simplified front and rear wings as well as the wings over the front wheels are striking. The tires have gotten bigger. Verstappen commented that it would be more difficult to hit the apex in the curves.