The 27th day of the Hoval Promotion League coincides with a full midweek round. Engaged inside the treacherous Eizmoos ground in Cham, Lugano U21 ended its effort with a bitter setback by a narrow margin.
FOUR CHANGES IN THE LINE-UP
The starting eleven proposed by Andrea Vitali consists of four changes compared to the last winning outing with the Geneva-based Grand-Saconnex. In the backs, Arbnor Gecaj regains the starting spot in place of Nicola Gamba, while it is in the median zone that the biggest changes are observed. Specifically, Felipe Ronchetti, Romeo Morandi and the returning Yannis Ryter are rewarded with a role from the first minute. For the rest, confirmation for seven elements. Marking absence are the "usual" Johann Angstmann, Boris Babić and Giovanni D'Agostino.
ENTERED THE FIELD WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
One hundred and twenty seconds on the clock and, with the Zug sunset looming on the horizon, David Piffero finds himself "face to face" with Patrick Zajac. However, the distance between the two opponents is such that it does not allow the Lugano striker the "dig" he thought of and wanted. It is in the 11th that the situation could be unlocked. Optimally served by Yassin Sbai, Ronchetti does not frame the goal in diagonal from a favorable position. In the following minute, Ryter tries a soft and tricky turning lob deflected at the last corner. They are the confirmations of the interesting start of the match by the guests.
FULL ATTENTION IN ALL AREAS
Against a tough opponent accustomed to taking the field at regular intervals, the concentration implemented by Andrea Maccoppi and his teammates is at the highest level from the very first bars. Without leaving too much room for maneuver to the red and blue, the Ticino showed themselves in the offensive zone on another occasion with Sbai, whose left-footed shot on a roundabout midway through the fraction just flew over the crossbar. Although the score always reads "zero to zero," the attacking actions are consistently of the HCL brand. Shots from the penalty corner follow one another, but the balls do not cross the white line. So we reach Logan Berchier's double whistle on the virgin score of the start of the match with Lugano U21 better from the point of view of ball possession and opportunities, but not very concrete in the key moments.
INDIVIDUAL MISTAKE AND BITTER PUNISHMENT
What is observed upon returning from the locker room, with the exception of an offensive-oriented change proposed by Roland Schwegler, is a somewhat more pronounced balance than what was offered in the first forty-five minutes. In any case, in the category reserved for goal chances, one more is recorded on the undercourt. The misfortune of Piffero, who was very adept at breaking free from close marking, is to see another defender come on top to wall off the shot. The unwritten rule of soccer-which repeats itself whenever a team deserves to be ahead but does not take advantage of what it produces-punishes the HCLers bitterly and with fierce punctuality. Just before the hour mark, an errant pass with Sbai's header launches Martín, whose right-footed shot is not blocked by Pseftis. The Greek defender's deflection landed on the feet of the onrushing Mark Marleku for the one-nil inscription.
TWENTY MINUTES IN NUMERICAL SUPERIORITY
Moments after the speaker announced the number of spectators present, Cedric Franek - the only cautioned on the Swiss-central side - made a dangerous intervention on the three-quarter line. This cost him his second caution and a final eleven-on-ten phase for the guests. In the 88th minute, a valuable combination between Sbai and newcomer Niccolò Spinelli grants the latter an opportunity to put the contest back in perfect parity. The ball, touched before the opponents arrived, went off to the side of the goal by a matter of centimeters, if not millimeters.
CONSISTENTLY DEFICIT RANKING
When there are only seven rounds left to the conclusion of the season, the situation for the second Biaconera team changes dramatically from last weekend and becomes even more deficit-ridden. The victories obtained by Baden and Bavois over, respectively, Grand-Saconnex (2-1 in Canton Geneva, registering the decisive goal with a man down) and Young Boys U21 (1-0 in front of their own public), leave the HCL, stationary at 25 points, at the bottom of the standings with two lengths behind the Aargavians and three behind the Vaudois.
"BRITISH WEEK" COMES TO A CLOSE
The intense seven days that the Lugano U21 boys are undergoing will end on Saturday, April 12, 2025 when they will face Bavois at the friendly Maglio field in Canobbio starting at 3 p.m.
COACH VITALI'S END-OF-GAME ANALYSIS: "IT'S NOT OVER YET"
"In the heat of the moment it is a bit annoying to analyze this result. However, in soccer one has to accept it. Sorry for Yassin Sbai, he is a generous guy and the first to regret the incident that decided the confrontation. It was a bad day, but it is not over yet. The team has to remain united and united, because there will be another very important battle to face on Saturday. Had we managed to take advantage of at least one of the several chances we created, we would have shifted the balance of the match. Against Bavois, as well as the one against Cham, will be yet another "six-point" contest. The Vaudois occupy two positions above us and struggle with us to gain salvation. Now, let's recharge our energy to be ready for the next home fixture.".
SC CHAM-FC LUGANO U21 1-0 (0-0)
Sportplatz Eizmoos, 335 spectators.
Network: 58′ Marleku 1-0.
Admonished: 16′ Franek, 22′ Gecaj, 90′ +2′ Bajrić.
Expelled: 72′ Franek (double caution).
SC Cham: Zajac; Tschopp, Franek, Bühler, Lujić (73′ Zimmermann); Bajrić, Büeler (46′ Martín), Flühmann; Pasquarelli (89′ Giordano), Ouedraogo (73′ Loosli); Marleku (82′ Capone). Coach: Schwegler.
FC Lugano U21: Pseftis; Gecaj, Shala, Molino (88′ Maslarov); Pizzagalli (71′ Plisko), Maccoppi, Ronchetti (60′ Lechner), Sbai; Morandi, Ryter; Piffero (60′ Spinelli). Coach: Vitali.
Referee: Berchier. Assistants: Hasanković and Arnold.
