An exciting afternoon was experienced today in Cornaredo, which brought joys, twists and turns and, unfortunately, also a pinch of bitterness in the mouths of the HCL fans. Before kickoff, the enthusiasm in the stands exploded with the announcement of Renato Steffen's renewal until 2028, news that further strengthens the bond between our talent and the HCL project.
Small initial thrills
Not even time to take a seat in the stands, and Basel immediately came close to taking the lead. In the 1st minute, a misunderstanding between Papadopoulos and Grgic gives Traoré a golden opportunity, but Saipi responds presently, while Kevin Carlos hits the post on the rebound. An early thrill that shook the HCLers: Bislimi set up Bottani shortly after, but our fantasist's shot was lost high over the crossbar.
Rhenish advantage
The match is a crescendo of emotions, with both teams facing each other head-on. In the 24th, however, Basel finds the lead: Kevin Carlos, well served by Shaqiri, mocks the HCL defense with a lob that leaves Saipi no chance.
Tie at the end of the first half
Wounded Lugano fought back bravely. Valenzuela and Vladi tried to pierce the host defense in the final half, but it was a penalty won by Zanotti in the dying minutes that put everything back in balance. From the penalty spot, Anto Grgic, a fresh new dad, confirmed his infallibility and signed the 1-1, ending the first half to the applause of Cornaredo.
Lightning start for the bianconeri
The resumption opened with Lugano immediately in the lead. Belhadj hits the post, and on the rebound the ball dances on the line without going in, triggering a restrained ovation. But the crowd's energy turns to joy in the 50th: a taut cross by Valenzuela finds Hajdari, who signs the 2-1 and makes Cornaredo explode.
With the lead, Lugano took control of the match, pushing steadily and came close to scoring its third with Bislimi in the 63rd. However, Basel is not up for it and hits a resounding rod with Traoré in the 64th, confirming an open challenge to the last.
Suffering to the end
The guests poured forward in the final minutes, but the Juventus defense held until the 87th, when a disputed penalty on Traoré changed the game's outcome. Shaqiri, from the penalty spot, did not miss and signed the final 2-2.
Bittersweet tie
The draw tastes like a mockery, especially after a performance of great intensity and quality. But all is not lost: the simultaneous braking of the direct pursuers keeps Lugano at the top of the standings.
Cornaredo with its nearly 5,000 spectators once again proved to be a fortress of emotions and passion. The goal remains clear: to continue fighting, match after match, to confirm themselves as the absolute protagonists of this season.
Press conference
Mattia Croci-Torti
The coach analyzes the challenge with Basel, dwelling on early difficulties, decisive tactical choices and a much-discussed refereeing episode.
On the game: "Basel is a physical team with enormously talented players, and Traoré as number 10 created quite a few difficulties for us. In the first few minutes we suffered, losing almost every duel, but once we moved Belhadj in front of the defense we managed to contain their game. From that moment on, we made the game."
On the possible double yellow to Schmid: "The referee simply complied with the rules. When an already cautioned player causes a penalty foul, it is not possible to award both a penalty and a second yellow. In this case there is no controversy, Wolfensberger made the correct decision."
Renato Steffen
Our number 11, freshly renewed until 2028, expresses all his satisfaction with the trust of the club and the desire to aim higher and higher together with his teammates.
"I am really happy to stay here in Lugano. We managed to find a perfect understanding between what the club wanted and what I wanted. In a soccer where nothing is a given, signing a three-year contract at my age is a demonstration of great confidence. I want to continue to put my talent and experience at the service of the team. I thank the club for this opportunity and look forward to continuing to work to win a trophy together!"
