FC Lugano ended Thun's six-game winning streak and won 1-0 at the league leaders. The visitors scored the decisive goal while short-handed.
In the duel between the two teams with the strongest form in the Super League, there was a lot to be said for the home team in the final quarter of an hour. In the 74th minute, Uran Bislimi risked everything in the fight for the ball and hit Thun goalkeeper Niklas Steffen on the head. Referee Nico Gianforte sent off the man from Ticino - a harsh but justifiable decision.
However, the visitors were not deterred by this setback. Shortly before the end, it was a co-production between substitute Georgios Koutsias and Claudio Cassano that led to the winning goal. The Greek player got the better of Lucien Dähler on the wing and the Italian finished the assist in the middle. It was the first goal in the Super League for the loanee from partner club Chicago Fire.
Goalkeeper Amir Saipi played an equally important part in Lugano's success, standing in for the injured David von Ballmoos and doing his own advertising. As against Basel, the former Swiss U21 international goalkeeper put in a strong performance. In the second half in particular, he made several miraculous saves, after 52 minutes against Michael Heule, who appeared alone in front of him, and in the 55th minute with a spectacular double save against Justin Roth and Kastriot Imeri.
Telegram:
Thun - Lugano 0:1 (0:0)
7353 spectators. - SR Gianforte. - Goal: 86th Cassano (Koutsias) 0:1.
Thun: Steffen; Dähler (88. Stewart), Bamert, Bürki, Heule; Reichmuth (75. Meichtry), Bertone, Roth (70. Rupp), Imeri (75. Matoshi); Ibayi (70. Labeau), Rastoder.
Lugano: Saipi; Zanotti, Mai, Papadopoulos, Martim Marques (90. El Wafi); Grgic, Bislimi; Cimignani (79. Brault-Guillard), Daniel Dos Santos (79. Cassano), Mahou (63. Mahmoud); Behrens (79. Koutsias).
Remarks: 74th red card against Bislimi (rough foul). Cautions: Roth (19), Mahou (22), Mahmoud (66), Bürki (84), Saipi (94).
The live ticker
FC Thun
FC Lugano
- (86.) 0:1 - Claudio Cassano
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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86.
Cassano shoots Lugano into the lead while short-handed
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74.
Bislimi clears Thun goalie Steffen and is sent off
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52.
Saipi saves Lugano from going behind with a strong save
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35.
Saipi saves against Imeri
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0.
Mehmedi amazes after the last win over Thun
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90.+7.End of 2nd half
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90.+4.Yellow card FC Lugano
Amir Saipi
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90.Substitution in FC Lugano
Ayman El Wafi
Defender
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90.Substitution out FC Lugano
Martim Marques
Defender
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88.Substitution in FC Thun
Layton Stewart
Striker
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88.Substitution out FC Thun
Lucien Dähler
Defender
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86.Goal for FC Lugano, 0:1 through Claudio Cassano (Georgios Koutsias)
Claudio Cassano
Midfielder
Assist: Georgios Koutsias
Striker
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84.Yellow card FC Thun
Marco Bürki
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79.Substitution in FC Lugano
Zachary Brault-Guillard
Defender
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79.Substitution out FC Lugano
Yanis Cimignani
Striker
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79.Substitution in FC Lugano
Claudio Cassano
Midfielder
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79.Substitution out FC Lugano
Daniel Dos Santos
Striker
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79.Substitution in FC Lugano
Georgios Koutsias
Striker
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79.Substitution out FC Lugano
Kevin Behrens
Striker
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78.Substitution in FC Thun
Franz-Ethan Meichtry
Midfielder
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78.Substitution out FC Thun
Nils Reichmuth
Midfielder
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78.Substitution in FC Thun
Valmir Matoshi
Midfielder
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78.Substitution out FC Thun
Kastriot Imeri
Midfielder
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74.Red card FC Lugano (direct)
Uran Bislimi
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70.Substitution in FC Thun
Noah Rupp
Midfielder
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70.Substitution out FC Thun
Justin Roth
Midfielder
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70.Substitution in FC Thun
Brighton Labeau
Striker
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70.Substitution out FC Thun
Christopher Ibayi
Striker
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66.Yellow card FC Lugano
Mohamed Belhadj Mahmoud
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63.Substitution in FC Lugano
Mohamed Belhadj Mahmoud
Midfielder
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63.Substitution out FC Lugano
Hicham Mahou
Midfielder
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45.+2.End of 1st half
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22.Yellow card FC Lugano
Hicham Mahou
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19.Yellow card FC Thun
Justin Roth
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1.Start of the match