The YB quarter of an hour was just 21 seconds old when Kastriot Imeri had the equalizer at 1-1 after a nice combination with Cedric Itten from the edge of the penalty area. Lugano goalie Amir Saipi was wide awake and parried to the side.
Exactly a minute later, Imeri, who had been on the field since the 63rd minute, had another sniff of the goal. But Saipi just managed to defuse the free kick that went into the near corner of the goal.
No sofa master party on Sunday
Coach Joël Magnin’s team continued its attack: In the 81st minute, Itten rose into the air in the penalty area and his header attempt rolled just past the post. Shortly before the end there was another fire in the Lugano penalty area, but the devil Saipi thwarted again (90th + 5th).
With the first home defeat against Lugano in over seven years, it is also clear that the Bernese will not be able to defend their championship title on Sunday – even if Servette loses in St. Gallen.
Doumbia scores goal of the game
The fact that it wasn’t enough for “Gelbschwarz” to be successful was also due to a sleepy start: the Luganesi started much fresher and appeared dangerously in front of the YB box one or two times.
In the 12th minute the ball found its way into the net: Anto Grgic took a free kick from the half field into the center, where Ousmane Doumbia nodded in unmarked to make it 1-0.
YB turns up the heat, but remains without penetration
The longer the half lasted, the better the home team got going. Nevertheless, they only recorded their first shot on goal in the 43rd minute, which also posed little threat to Lugano keeper Saipi.
After the break, Saipi was challenged significantly more, but he didn’t allow himself to be defeated.
This is how it goes
YB invites you to the next game in front of their home team: The Bernese welcome FC St. Gallen on Thursday from 8:30 p.m. The game can be seen live on SRF. At the same time, Lugano competes against FC Winterthur in the Cornaredo.