FC Lugano Women's FC Lugano's 25th and final official outing of the 2024-2025 season ended with a fair division of the stakes against Sion.
CONTENTION IS DECIDED IN THE FIRST HALF
The duel, played on side ground number 2 of the Al Maglio Sports Center in Canobbio, opens with the HCL girls on the attack. To that confirmation, one of the usual and classic well-maneuvered actions (quick offload and counter-offload) to which the public is accustomed, Anaïs Fragnito unlocks the score when the clock marks minute number 9. Sabina Di Muro's right-footed shot rebuffed by Valais goalkeeper Elise Rebord in the 18th is the last chance of the period for the hosts.
The Romande, already certain of first place in the placement round, reaffirmed their strength and squareness starting particularly in the half-hour of play. First, in the thirty-sixth, there is a conclusion on the outside of the net by Melissa Garcia. Then, within the next turn of the clock, Marie Enning is providential with a miraculous intervention on Laetitia Conus (who is unintentionally assisted by an error by Melissa Colombo). From the ensuing corner kick, Garcia nets the one-on-one ball into the back of the net. Soon after, Elena Aristodimou tries a diagonal shot that goes wide not by much.
SHOOTING WITH CHIARA AUDRINO STARRING
The 17-year-old Luganese goalkeeper, who took over at the break from her colleague Enning, preserves the final point with several decisive repeated interventions. The first is observed in the 49th, when she touches with her fingertips a free kick from thirty yards by Aristodimou, sending the ball over the crossbar. Between the fifty-fourth and the hour mark he deserves numerous applauses with three more valuable saves. A deflection on a corner kick, a confident block on Aleksandra Yaneva's close-range diagonal pass, and a framing wall on Garcia's two-step attempt are the highlights in favor of #1.
The last twenty minutes of the confrontation could change the outcome, either side. In the seventieth, a diagonal pass by the Swiss-French intercepted by Fragnito did not turn into a goal. Likewise, Stella Suter's interesting cross in the eighty-fifth is not impacted by any teammate (Mathilda Andreoli is misled by an opponent's veil). Three minutes into the contest, Audrino again says "no" to Aristodimou with a valuable volley.
FOURTH PLACE FINISH WITH IMPORTANT VALUE
The proper draw that resulted late Saturday afternoon brings the spoils won by coach Giorgio Fransioli's protégées to 35 points. The position they occupy at the conclusion of the year is fourth, just two lengths behind third-ranked Küssnacht a/R and one ahead of fifth-ranked Étoile Carouge from Geneva (running out of points in the seven challenges of the placement tournament).
COACH FRANSIOLI'S POST-MATCH WORDS...
on the opponent - "In the placement round, Sion was the most square team we faced. The red-and-whites play well, they are excellently positioned on the field. With the Romande, Winterthur also gave us a hard time. The Tigurines are always tough. They are the two best teams and, not surprisingly, they occupy the top two positions in the rankings.".
On the match - "It was definitely not the best we have played. I can't say that we were satisfied with the quality on offer on this occasion. We knew, though, that when there is little at stake, it is never easy to find motivation. In any case, I am happy because we won a new point (which increases the positive streak to six matches). The quality of our team also allowed us to put forward a less-than-excellent contest and walk off the field with a division of the stakes".
On the value of 4th place - "The reward is not third or fourth place, but the moment when the team officially won salvation. I told the girls that the reward would last ten small seconds. But it was an extraordinarily well-deserved ten seconds. I would obviously have been pleased to end the year on the lowest step of the podium. However, fourth is a very good position.".
On the season - "My overall assessment concerns a championship where everything was experienced. It has been beautiful. They are the kind of seasons that we will remember years from now in our careers as players and coaches. They are those years that "stay with you." If I rewind the tape to July 7-8 when I signed and think about where we are now, everything is just great".
On recent renewals - "Not having to change too much from one season to the next is an advantage after a troubled championship like this one. The extensions of Antonella Albertini and Giorgia Zanaboni mean that the girls are doing well in Lugano, and my job is also to make them feel good here on the Ceresio shore".
