FC Lugano also wins its second match in the Conference League. In Mlada Boleslav, a goal from Steffen and a penalty saved by Amir Saipi led to a 1:0 victory.
So far, the league phase has been quiet and successful for FC Lugano. Mattia Croci-Torti's team followed up their 3-0 win against HJK Helsinki with a not entirely unchallenged but deserved second victory in the Czech Republic. After two of the six rounds, the Ticino side are now in the top 8 and qualify directly for the round of 16.
The decisive scenes in the small, 5,000-seater stadium in Mlada Boleslav took place in the 38th and 82nd minutes. First, Luganesi took the lead: Uran Bislimi's pass into the deep and Hicham Mahou's deflected shot landed at the feet of Steffen, who scored his sixth goal of the season.
The victory then came under threat once again as Lugano restricted themselves a little too much to the bare minimum and Albian Hajdari committed an unnecessary foul in his own penalty area. Amir Saipi saved the resulting penalty twice. Patrik Vydra was allowed to take the penalty again after the first attempt because Lugano players had entered the penalty area too early.
Lugano continue their campaign in two weeks' time against Backa Topola. The small Serbian town is not a football stronghold either. The chances of further points are good: Backa Topola, like Mlada Boleslav, have yet to pick up a point after two rounds.
Telegram and table:
Mlada Boleslav - Lugano 0:1 (0:1)
SR Theouli (CYP). - Goal: 38. Steffen 0:1.
Mlada Boleslav: Trmal; Kral, Suchy, Kralik; Kostka, Sakala (65. Stransky), Vydra, Ladra (88. Vojta), Fulnek (84. Marecek); Kusej, Masek.
Lugano: Saipi; Brault-Guillard, Papadopoulos, Hajdari, Marques; Doumbia, Grgic (84. Mahmoud), Bislimi (91. Dos Santos); Steffen (91. Mai), Aliseda (74. Bottani), Mahou (74. Przybylko).
Remarks: Lugano without Valenzuela and Zanotti (both injured). 81st Saipi saves penalty from Vydra. Cautions: 78 Hajdari. 98 Bottani.
1. Chelsea 2/6 (8:3). 2. Fiorentina 2/6 (6-2). 3. Legia Warsaw 2/6 (4-0). 3. Lugano 2/6 (4-0). 5. Vitoria Guimarães 2/6 (5-2). 6. Heart of Midlothian 2/6 (4:1). 6. Jagiellionia Bialystok 2/6 (4:1). 8th Heidenheim 2/6 (3-1). 8th Rapid Vienna 2/6 (3-1). 10. Shamrock Rovers 2/4 (5-2). 11. Borac Banja Luka 2/4 (2-1). 12. Omonia Nicosia 2/3 (4-2). 13. The New Saints 2/3 (2-2). 14. Ghent 2/3 (4:5). 15. Vikingur Reykjavik 2/3 (3:5). 16. Celje 2/3 (6:4). 17. Pafos 2/3 (4:2). 18. Olimpija Ljubljana 2/3 (3:2). 19. Noah Yerevan 2/3 (2:1). 20. HJK Helsinki 2/3 (1-3). 21. Molde 2/3 (4:2). 22. Cercle Brugge 2/3 (7:5). 23 Astana 2/3 (1:2). 24 Djurgarden Stockholm 2/1 (3-4). 25. Linzer ASK 2/1 (2:4). 26 FC Copenhagen 2/1 (2-3). 27. Betis Sevilla 2/1 (1-2). 28. APOEL Nicosia 2/1 (1-2). 29. Panathinaikos Athens 2/1 (2-5). 30. Dynamo Minsk 2/0 (1-3). 31st Mlada Boleslav 2/0 (0:3). 32nd TSC Backa Topola 2/0 (0:4). 33. Istanbul Basaksehir 2/0 (2:7). 34 Petrocub Hincesti 2/0 (1:6). 35. St. Gallen 2/0 (4:10). 36 Larne 2/0 (1:7).
SDA
