Lugano 3–0 Kauno Žalgiris: Flying Swiss side comfortably dispatch domestic treble winners

Kauno Žalgiris remain bottom of the UEFA Conference League after a 0-3 defeat away to Lugano. The Lithuanian treble winners are still without a point after previous losses to Brighton and Brann.

Kauno Žalgiris, still winless in the Conference League, can now give the competition their full attention after completing a domestic treble with a 4-1 win over Hegelmann on Saturday. Lugano are flying, still unbeaten this season after winning both of their previous European games against Getafe and Crvena Zvezda and scoring a total of eight goals. Žalgiris had previously lost 0-4 to Brighton and 1-4 to Brann. Manager Željko Sopić made six changes from the Brann defeat and lined up with five at the back and three in midfield.

Match highlights

0′ Kick-off.

6′ Excellent chance for Kauno Žalgiris. Benchaib crosses from deep and finds Edokpolor on the edge of the box. Edokpolor lays it wide to Debeljuh, who tries to find Kreković at the far post. The pass is intercepted but falls perfectly back to Edokpolor, closer to goal than the penalty spot. His shot is lightly blocked by a Lugano defender’s shoulder. No corner is given despite a short VAR check. It proves the best chance of the night for the visitors.

11′ GOAL! 0-1 Kalik is dispossessed near the edge of his own box. Kendouci pokes the ball to Dos Santos, who crosses to the far post. Unmarked Cimignani meets it with a powerful finish. Mikelionis has little chance from that distance.

19′ Quick Lugano break. Dos Santos plays a sharp pass from the wing towards Ajeti, who gets ahead of Hernández but cannot quite reach it.

24′ GOAL! 0-2 Cimignani’s deep cross is headed against the crossbar by Ajeti. The ball drops kindly for captain Alioski, who is waiting and drives it high into the net off the underside of the bar before Žalgiris can clear.

28′ Deep ball finds Dos Santos in a good position. Mikelionis comes out far too early, leaving the goal exposed, but Lekiatas arrives just in time to deflect the ball behind for a corner.

32′ GOAL! 0-3 Karimov finds Dos Santos from deep. He takes his time, juggles his way through the Žalgiris defence while between three players and still finds an opening to volley the ball beautifully into the top far corner.

44′ Karimov drives into the box on his own and shoots low towards the far corner. Hernández is covering and Kalik’s sliding challenge is too late. The ball goes just wide.

HT review
Dominant half from the home side. 71% possession, 9-2 shots (UEFA figures). The statistics represent the flow of the game well. Kauno Žalgiris had the chance of the game in the sixth minute to go in front but did not take it. A five-at-the-back shape may not be the best option for Kaunas. Sopić also tried it in the second half against Brighton and it worked worse than the back four. All of Lugano’s shots on target were converted. At the break Kauno Žalgiris made a double change, bringing on Burba for Kreković and the more defensive Karashima for Benchaib.

75′ First real chance of the second half. Grgić’s deep cross finds Behrens, who takes a touch and shoots from a tight angle. Mikelionis has to dive low to his far post and turns it behind for a corner.

82′ First shot on target from Kauno Žalgiris. Fiolić tries one from well outside the box but it poses no threat.

86′ Pihlström drives down the wing and plays a through ball into the box. Behrens’ momentum takes him wide and he rolls it perfectly to Castro, who shoots high with his left foot.

FT review
Lugano lowered the tempo significantly in the second half. Kauno Žalgiris looked more solid in midfield after Karashima came on, but Lugano were always in control. The best chance for the away side came in the sixth minute, when Edokpolor received the ball in the centre of the box. The shot was lightly blocked, but it was an excellent opportunity nonetheless.

Kauno Žalgiris face Riga at home in the Conference League on Thursday 26 November. They remain bottom of the table with a -10 goal difference. The only other side still without a point is Andorran club Inter Club d’Escaldes.

FC Lugano vs FK Kauno Žalgiris – 3-0 (3-0)
Goals: Cimignani 11′, Alioski 24′, Dos Santos 32′