A stoppage-time goal ended FC Winterthur's Swiss Cup run. The Challenge League side lost 1-0 to Super League club FC Luzern in the round of 16 on Sunday, with Pius Dorn scoring the decisive goal in the 92nd minute.

The winner came from a corner by Andejs Ciganiks. Nando Toggenburger's header was saved by goalkeeper Antonio Spagnoli, but Dorn was there to poke the ball home. "Drückt den Ball nach einem Eckball über die Linie zum Sieg," said the Luzern goalscorer. The 21-year-old Spagnoli had previously put in an excellent performance, denying several chances for the visitors, including a shot from Matteo Di Giusto. "Zeigte eine hervorragende Partie," was the praise for the young keeper. Luzern coach Fabio Celestini said: "We managed to get the win, even if it was late. Winterthur defended very well."

Winterthur Miss Their Big Chance

The home side had the best opportunity to take the lead themselves. In the 75th minute, captain Antonio Marchesano hit the crossbar with a free kick. After halftime, Winterthur created further chances through players like Citherlet, but Luzern's keeper Letica remained solid. Patrick Rahmen's team defended bravely for long periods against the top-flight opponent, who enjoyed more possession and chances. An earlier goal from Daniel Mikolajewski had also been ruled out for offside. Rahmen analyzed: "We showed a very good performance, were disciplined and brave. It is extremely bitter to lose so close to the end."

The defeat is particularly bitter as Winterthur sit third in the Challenge League with 18 points from ten games and have a run of four wins in their last five league matches. Their most recent loss was a 3-0 defeat at Neuchâtel Xamax on October 9. The focus must now shift fully back to the league.

Attention Turns to the League

The next fixture comes quickly on Friday, October 23. FC Winterthur then host 10th-placed Stade Nyonnais in an important home Challenge League match at 8:15 PM. The current standings show the team is just six points behind leaders Stade Lausanne-Ouchy. Patrick Rahmen's squad must quickly process the disappointment to maintain their push at the top of the league. The full fixtures schedule for the coming weeks awaits.

This story first appeared at 20 Minuten

The official match reports confirm the late defeat. The 0-1 loss to Luzern was the second game in a row without a goal for Winterthur. Patrick Rahmen's team conceded the decisive goal in stoppage time by Pius Dorn. In the Challenge League, FCW remains in third place with 18 points from ten games. The next appearance is on Friday, October 23, against Stade Nyonnais.