Lugano can look forward to a European fall. However, the Ticino side claimed the necessary luck in the second leg against Partizan Belgrade and came from 2:2 down in extra time.
In the 111th minute, Renato Steffen crossed with pinpoint accuracy to Hadj Mahmoud, who was lurking at the second post. He tucked the ball over the line and then celebrated with the fans, who had traveled back to Thun for the "home game". Lugano, who were short-handed from the 88th minute after Albian Hajdari was shown a yellow card, managed to hold on to the draw.
The Ticino side, who had taken a 1-0 lead from the first leg, fell behind twice. Steffen equalized immediately after the break, but the Serbs took the lead again in the 67th minute after a corner kick. Mahmoud came close to equalizing with a double chance in the 82nd minute, but it would not come until extra time.
A fact that should not bother Lugano. The Ticino side will play in Europe in the fall, as they did last season. The only question is whether it will be in the Conference League again or even in the Europa League. To do so, the Ticino side, who failed to qualify for the Champions League against Fenerbahce, need an exploit in the play-offs against Besiktas.
Lugano - Partizan Belgrade 2:2 (1:2, 0:1) n.V.
SR De Burgos (ESP). - Goals: 44. Zahid 0:1. 48. Steffen 1:1. 67. Markovic 1:2. 111. Mahmoud 2:2.
Lugano: Saipi; Zanotti, Papadopoulos, Hajdari, Valenzuela; Doumbia, Grgic (63. Mahmoud); Steffen (117. Brault-Guillard), Bislimi (88. Mai), Dos Santos (54. Vladi); Aliseda (63. Mahou/117. Marques).
Comments: 88th yellow card for Hajdari.
