Europa League qualification: FC Lugano has to settle for a draw against CFR Cluj

(sda) Lugano had to settle for a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Europa League's second qualifying round against CFR Cluj. To stay in the race, they'll need to improve their performance in Romania next week.

Things could have been even worse for Lugano, in exile in the Bernese Oberland. Only eight minutes into the game in Thun, defender Ayman El Wafi conceded a penalty. Karlo Muhar, however, hit the post.

The match subsequently developed without any major highlights. Lugano had the ball most of the time, but didn't know what to do with it. Thus, the goalless draw was a logical outcome.

If the Ticino team prevails in Cluj in a week, they would face the winner of the match between Levski Sofia and Braga from Portugal in the third qualifying round, otherwise they would continue in the qualification for the third-tier Conference League.

Lausanne-Sport lost 2-1 away to Vardar Skopje in the second qualifying round of the Conference League. Lausanne could have earned a more promising starting position with a significant improvement in the second half. The equalizer in the 58th minute came courtesy of US substitute Konrad de la Fuente, who came on at halftime and set up Gaoussou Diakaté's stunning goal.

With a quarter of an hour to go, however, it was Azer Omeragikj who fired Skopje to victory. With temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius in the North Macedonian capital, Lausanne struggled. Ultimately, new head coach Peter Zeidler suffered a defeat in his first competitive match, but it still leaves all hopes alive.

The return match will take place next Thursday. A win will see Lausanne return to the East, where they will face the winner of the match between Astana of Kazakhstan and Zimbru Chisinau of Moldova. Otherwise, the Vaudois club's European Cup adventure is over.

Also in the second qualifying round of the Conference League, FC Vaduz lost to Dungannon Swifts from Northern Ireland.