Lugano qualified directly for the round of 16 of the Conference League. Hooked by Paphos in Thun (2-2), the Ticinese finished 6th in the league phase. For its part, Saint-Gall failed to secure the top-24. In Germany, the Saint-Gallois certainly held on to Heidenheim (1-1) but they failed to reach 2 points from the last qualifying place.
Fifth before this evening, Lugano suffered against a team from Paphos which could still hope to grab the top-8 and which will be content with the play-offs. However, Mattia Croci-Torti’s men could (should) have achieved a 5th success in 6 matches if they had better managed the start and end of this game.
Lugano, then virtually 2nd in this League phase, conceded 2-2 at the end of stoppage time on a long aerial ball headed by Goldar (95th). The “Bianconeri” had conceded the opening score in the 4th, on an autogoal from Amir Saipi who saw the ball hit his back after a shot repelled by a post.
However, the efficiency was there on the Ticino side. Belhadj Mahmoud equalized in the 7th on one of Lugano’s first chances. And in the 33rd, Mattia Bottani took advantage of an involuntary assist from Zanotti on a missed clearance from a defender to quietly score the 2-1.
An insufficient draw for St. Gallen
Forced to win in Germany to hope to be one of the 16 play-offs, Saint-Gall could not believe in the feat. The Brodeurs nevertheless played a very bad trick against Heidenheim, who would have snatched a ticket for the round of 16 in the event of a victory. They equalized at 1-1 in the 77th minute on a close range header from Jozo Stanic, sending the 16th in the Bundesliga into the play-offs.
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