Lugano beats Sion in stoppage time Croci-Torti blows for the attack: "Can play for the first places until the end"

Tobias Benz

1.2.2025

Lugano once again proved its championship quality: the leaders won in stoppage time for the second time in a row. They beat Sion 3-2 at home thanks to a penalty in stoppage time and an own goal.

Kreshnik Hajrizi of all people, the former Luganese player who returned to Switzerland from Poland and made his debut for FC Sion, started the crazy final phase of the game with an own goal in the 82nd minute. Before Anto Grgic converted a handball penalty in the 94th minute to make it 3:2, Hajrizi deflected a sharp cross from Mattia Zanotti into the net to make it 2:1.

The former Lugano Super League player and Sion junior, who was signed as a replacement for Joël Schmied, who had moved to Germany, made his first appearance for the Valais club's professional team. Fortunately, the 25-year-old central defender's mishap was not tantamount to defeat, as substitute Sion joker Dejan Sorgic equalized in the 88th minute. It was Mohcine Bouriga's unfortunate handball that finally decided the game.

Another last-minute victory

Lugano, who had fallen behind in the first half through Anton Mirantschuk and equalized through Shkelqim Vladi and once again held their own in the absence of MVP Renato Steffen, thus secured victory in stoppage time, as they did in the 3-2 win in Winterthur a week ago.

"This win shows that we can win against any opponent and play for first place right to the end," said Lugano coach Mattia Croci-Torti to blue Sport after the game. "But we have to play better. We weren't as confident as we can be in the first half. Sion did well."

After the weekend, the Ticino side will be the first team to lead the table for a fifth round in a row this season. First-placed Basel can close the gap to one point with a win at FC Zurich on Sunday.


Comments on the game

Man of the Match: Mattia Zanotti

The 22-year-old right-back stands out as a tireless winger. It felt like 90 percent of all dangerous moves went through his side. He forced the important 2:1 at this point with his constant offensive drive. Such a Zanotti can hardly be kept in Lugano for more than another 0.5 - 1.5 years.

Telegram

Lugano - Sion 3:2 (1:1)

3287 spectators. - SR Dudic. - Goals: 15. Mirantschuk 0:1. 25. Vladi 1:1. 82. Hajrizi (own goal) 2:1. 88. Sorgic (Lavanchy) 2:2. 94. Grgic (penalty) 3:2.

Lugano: Saipi; Zanotti, Mai, Hajdari, Valenzuela; Bislimi (74. Aliseda), Doumbia (74. Mahmoud); Cimignani (58. Grgic), Daniel Dos Santos (58. Mahou), Bottani; Vladi (81. Koutsias).

Sion: Fayulu; Lavanchy, Hajrizi, Barba, Hefti (88. Bouriga); Kabacalman; Berdayes, Mirantschuk (80. Kololli), Kronig; Bouchlarhem (88. Marquinhos Cipriano), Chouaref (80. Sorgic).

Remarks: Cautions: 36 Bislimi, 42 Bouchlarhem, 69 Zanotti, 72 Chouaref.

FC Lugano

Completed
3:2
(1:1)

FC Sion

  •  
  • Shkelqim Vladi - 1:1 (25.)
  • Kreshnik Hajrizi - 2:1 (82.)
  •  
  • Anto Grgic - 3:2 (90.+4.)
  • (15.) 0:1 - Anton Miranchuk
  •  
  •  
  • (88.) 2:2 - Dejan Sorgic
  •  
  • Liveticker
    New posts
  • Liveticker closed
  • 90. + 4'

  • 88.

  • 82.

  • 25.

  • 15.

  • 90.+6.
    End of 2nd half
  • 90.+4.
    Goal for FC Lugano, 3:2 through penalties from Anto Grgic

    Anto Grgic

    Midfielder

  • 88.
    Goal for FC Sion, 2:2 through Dejan Sorgic (Numa Lavanchy)

    Dejan Sorgic

    Striker

    Assist: Numa Lavanchy

    Defender

  • 88.
    Substitution in FC Sion

    Mouhsen Bouriga

    Striker

  • 88.
    Substitution out FC Sion

    Nias Hefti

    Defender

  • 88.
    Substitution in FC Sion

    Marquinhos Cipriano

    Defender

  • 88.
    Substitution out FC Sion

    Théo Bouchlarhem

    Striker

  • 82.
    Goal for FC Lugano, 2:1 through an own goal by Kreshnik Hajrizi

    Kreshnik Hajrizi

    Defender

  • 81.
    Substitution in FC Lugano

    Georgios Koutsias

    Striker

  • 81.
    Substitution out FC Lugano

    Shkelqim Vladi

    Striker

  • 80.
    Substitution in FC Sion

    Benjamin Kololli

    Midfielder

  • 80.
    Substitution out FC Sion

    Anton Miranchuk

    Midfielder

  • 79.
    Substitution in FC Sion

    Dejan Sorgic

    Striker

  • 79.
    Substitution out FC Sion

    Ilyas Chouaref

    Striker

  • 74.
    Substitution in FC Lugano

    Ignacio Aliseda

    Midfielder

  • 74.
    Substitution out FC Lugano

    Uran Bislimi

    Midfielder

  • 74.
    Substitution in FC Lugano

    Hadj Mahmoud

    Midfielder

  • 74.
    Substitution out FC Lugano

    Ousmane Doumbia

    Midfielder

  • 72.
    Yellow card FC Sion

    Ilyas Chouaref

  • 69.
    Yellow card FC Lugano

    Mattia Zanotti

  • 58.
    Substitution in FC Lugano

    Anto Grgic

    Midfielder

  • 58.
    Substitution out FC Lugano

    Yanis Cimignani

    Midfielder

  • 58.
    Substitution in FC Lugano

    Hicham Mahou

    Midfielder

  • 58.
    Substitution out FC Lugano

    Daniel Dos Santos

    Midfielder

  • 46.
    Kick-off 2nd half
  • 45.+3.
    End of 1st half
  • 42.
    Yellow card FC Sion

    Théo Bouchlarhem

  • 36.
    Yellow card FC Lugano

    Uran Bislimi

  • 25.
    Goal for FC Lugano, 1:1 through Shkelqim Vladi

    Shkelqim Vladi

    Striker

  • 15.
    Goal for FC Sion, 0:1 through Anton Miranchuk

    Anton Miranchuk

    Midfielder

  • 1.
    Start of the match

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