Matchday 25 round-up

The scorelines:

Mondercange 0-1 Racing Union Luxembourg

UNA Strassen 2-0 Hostert

Union Titus Pétange 0-2 Progrès Niedercorn

Etzella Ettelbrück 3-0 Jeunesse Esch

Fola Esch 1-2 Wiltz

Differdange 4-0 Victoria Rosport

Mondorf 1-1 Käerjéng

Swift Hesper 4-3 F91 Dudelange

Game of the Weekend #25:

The top-of-the-table face-off between Swift Hesperange and F91 were always going to grab the headlines and the attention of the majority, leaving another interesting contest between Niedercorn and Union Titus Pétange undeservedly underappreciated.

The hype was justified. Swift Hesper, three points ahead of F91, were topping the table with six games to go, and it looked like the last opportunity from the guests in yellow to try to upset Hesper's apple cart and prevent them from a first league trophy in their history.

Hesper won the autumn fixture by a shocking four-goal margin and marched on unbeaten up until March this year. Goal difference still stayed in their favour coming into the weekend though, meaning even a defeat would leave them in first place for the run-in, albeit in arguably more difficult circumstances.

A season-high 1,340 spectators decided to make their way to Stade Alphonse Théis in Holleschbierg. Judging by the numbers, the fans also considered this the most crucial match in both teams' seasons, one that is essential to win if they are to stand a chance for the title.

On the pitch meanwhile, the pace of the game was mostly under Hesper's control. There were early signs of nervousness and inaccuracy given the high tempo and quality of play early on, but while Hesper made sure to close down the goalkeeper and his passing options via an intensive high press, Dudelange usually looked to exploit spaces between Hesper's lines and operate through long balls towards target man Samir Hadji.

The first goal happened only 12 minutes in: Dominik Stolz, playing up top for most of the game, assisted Abdoul Karim Danté's header from a corner kick. The former Anderlecht academy defender scored his first goal in what was only his third start in 2022/23 – he could hardly have timed it better.

F91 managed to pull some strings after falling a goal behind, and had some promising moves down both wings, involving marauding wing-backs Mehdi Kirch and Sylvio Ouassiero in their attacks. The equaliser came from a cross from the right half-space too, although from defender Vincent Decker, whose ball was converted by Filip Bojić. Before the goal, F91 had already missed chances from similar crosses aimed at Samir Hadji and Dejvid Sinani.

The tendency had shifted after the opening goal and it carried on even after the first half finished at 1-1. Dudelange kept on being the more active team in attack, with the hosts restricted to play a passive, reactive role as F91 kept finding a way through their tiring press.

Two goals in quick succession seemed to have put the game beyond doubt in Dudelange’s favour. First Aldin Skenderović was able to score from a Bojić cross from close range to put F91 ahead, before Bruno Freire scored his second goal in 2022/23, tucking the ball away with accuracy in a 1v1 situation against Hesper goalie Géordan Dupire.

Hesperange used all three subs between minutes 55 and 66, indicating the need for some urgency in attack, looking for a new plan as key players Mehdi Terki and Maurice Deville were both taken off.

The real change was brought by someone who was in the starting XI – with good reason -, though. League top scorer Rayan Philippe showed his quality by an extraordinary moment of brilliance at the time when it mattered most. The Frenchman confidently stepped up for a corner in the 72nd minute and put it right in the top right corner.

The goal itself was a joy to watch, but the real source of excitement followed afterwards. Hesper were on a mission now, suddenly back in the game, while Dudelange still hadn't made any of their substitutions (which they wouldn't until the 77th minute), and the hosts pounced. Only three minutes after Philippe’s wondergoal, Hesper pulled level via substitute El Hadi Belameiri’s goal from midfielder Clément Couturier's assist.

The game's highlight reel might as well have showed the audience an uncut version from the second Hesper goal until the last one, as the six(!) minutes in between were full of opportunities and chaos. The decider was scored roughly seven minutes after Philippe's corner, with the striker now attempting to score from a free kick. Although the ball deflected off the wall, Stolz was there and timed his run perfectly to convert it without straying offside. The game was suddenly F91’s to chase, so soon after being two goals ahead.

Much to F91 fans' despair, Stolz's goal was to be the last twist. Hesper managed to see the remainder of the game out after the early second-half scare from their opponents. This increased their advantage on the league table to six points (besides having a superior goal difference), so even nine points out of a possible 15 could be enough to clinch a first title in club history.

Player of the Weekend #25:

An inspired performance from João Simões helped his team Differdange to a thumping 4-0 win over dangerous underdogs Victoria Rosport. Simões set up a goal for Laurent Pomponi late in the game after having scored one himself back in the first half.

Rosport had been enjoying fine form coming into the FCD game, winning three and drawing one of their latest five league outings, scoring a combined 17 goals.

The balance might have shifted now with Differdange, on the other hand, as Hélder Dias' crew fought back from consecutive 0-4 defeats in March via an emphatic 8-0 thrashing of Käerjéng, before knocking league leaders Swift Hesper out of the cup in the round of 16. Another free-scoring victory against Rosport marks their third win in succession. The mid-table being as packed as it is, FCD are still on course to compete for the fifth place with Racing FC Union.

Goal of the Weekend #25:

When a game of this magnitude is played, with so much at stake, you have to be at your best to perform. Being at your best might include scoring from a 1-on-1 opportunity, pinging in crosses or being in the right place at the right time.

That’s what most footballers set out to do before deciding games. Rayan Philippe is different from the rest.

"If I said I did it on purpose, some wouldn’t believe me" – joked the scorer to Moien Mental about his spectacular goal from a corner kick at Hesper’s 4-3 win over Dudelange. "There was a little wind as well, I hit it hard and it went in."

The striker is still hitting new heights, firing his team towards a first league title in their history with 23 goals and 23 assists in the 25 appearances so far. If Hesper do make it to the Champions League qualifiers and book a place in one of the European group stages, Philippe could get the perfect platform to showcase his talents against elite foreign opposition and perhaps move to a professional league sooner rather than later.

Storyline of the Weekend #25

Union Titus Pétange's European prospects are out of their hands now. After going down to 9 men and losing to Progrès Niedercorn without key striker Kai Merk, their only chance to qualify for the Europa Conference League is by finishing fourth and hoping either Dudelange or Niedercorn end up winning the domestic cup.

Union's early-season heroics carried on into the spring season as well when they achieved the feat of beating Hesper and F91 one week apart in consecutive games. This loss, though, puts them in a tough position where they are eight points off from the podium five games from the end.

If both Progrès Niedercorn and F91 Dudelange stumble in the Coupe de Luxembourg and any of the other six teams still in the competition end up grabbing the piece of silverware for themselves, it will also come with the right to play in Europe – at Union's expense.

After Union's painful narrow loss in the cup to Dudelange last week, their work is cut out now. Their best – and only – option is holding on to fourth place and hoping other results will go in their favour.