Although the main spectacle of this season’s first midweek fixture, Progrès Niederkorn vs Racing FCUL, had to be called off and postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, all the other matches went through. Some teams can feel especially lucky about that decision in light of the weather all across Luxembourg.

Stade Jos Haupert, Progrès’ home ground, endured a rather challenging evening on Wednesday, as the heavy rain created visible puddles in several parts of the pitch. Both penalty areas quickly became muddy as a result of the storm breaking out in the opening stages of the game, rendering the surface borderline unplayable. 
 
The refereeing crew tried to see the game out and continue as long as it was reasonable to any extent, until the 32nd minute, when a shot from Niederkorn defender Léo Jousselin stopped in its track in the mud. This prompted the officials to pause the game indefinitely, before concluding that the damage caused by the rain would be unable to be cleared up in time for the match to continue. 
 
The new date has not yet been published by the association. It might potentially impact red cards and accumulated yellow card suspensions, though, given Chris Lybohy’s current unavailability. The midfielder was sent off in Progrès’ previous game against Wiltz 71, before a violent scuffle flared up between the two sides after frustration from the guests fuelled by racist chants from Wiltz supporters on Saturday. The postponement of the Racing game can now make him ineligible to start his team’s next fixture against UNA Strassen instead. 

F91 Dudelange enjoy the spotlight

 
After the cancellation of the derby, many fans will have turned their attention to another clash taking place just a few miles away, in Dudelange, where F91 hosted a struggling Fola Esch, who started the season with 6 defeats from 7 games. 
 
The hosts endured a harder start to the game than they expected, given a resilient and organised defence from Fola, who were alert in their plan to snatch a valuable point from the fortress Stade Jos Nosbaum has become in recent times. 
 
The opening goal came coincidentally just minutes after play stopped in Niederkorn, as if F91 wanted to treat all fans for a well-constructed attack, featuring a neat interplay between wing-backs Mehdi Kirch and Kino Delorge, with the former putting the ball away in the end. 
 
After the first setback, Fola’s defence suffered repeatedly from lapses of concentration and confusion in their individual tasks when marking the opponent. Samir Hadji was quick to pounce on that, and added another goal to his tally for the season from the first attack after the break. 
 
From 2-0 down, the Eschers had little choice but to try to limit the damage and see the last 40 minutes out without a complete humiliation. However, they soon started seeming way too naïve to execute that game plan successfully, resulting in four further capitulations. Wingers Bilal Benkhedim and Yannick Schaus both found the net, before F91’s summer recruit Oskar Ekeberg also scored against his former club. In the 89th minute, Adrien Scholler added a consolation goal for Fola, but Dudelange youngster Pedro Mendes still had time to reply to that with a goal himself. 

Differdange concede a goal but continue winning streak 

Last season’s champions FC Differdange started the year in an even more rampant fashion this time around, with a previously unprecedented 676-minute streak of successfully keeping their goal shut. 
 
676 minutes amounted to 90 each from the previous seven games, and 46 in their game against Mondercange on Wednesday, when French defensive midfielder Jordan Swistek became the first person to beat Felipe in first half stoppage time, after a red-card foul from Juan Bedouret resulted in a penalty being awarded. 
 
Bedouret had seemed to become the hero of the day after opening the scoring earlier, from Gustavo Simões’ assist, before his unfortunate expulsion from the game. The Brazilian striker then took control in the second half himself, provider turning finisher, after another penalty was given by the referee shortly before the hour mark. Gustavo’s goal proved to be the decider in a game that went quite differently to Differdange’s pre-game plans, but they did nevertheless retain their perfect record in top scorer Jorginho’s absence due to a red-card suspension. 
 
FCD’s lead in the table stands at 3 points, with rivals Hesperange close behind. The 0-0 draw between the two sides worked in the leaders’ favour for now, but it could have quickly backfired had they not received a spot kick to help them see out this tricky game against lowly Mondercange. 
 
Mondercange, on the other hand, are still without a single point, and ironically their best chance to change that during the season so far has been against the most dangerous and unstoppable force in the league. Their next match against newly-promoted Rodange could be a better occasion to turn the tide, before their cup game against lower-league Rupensia Larochette. 

Around the pitches 

Wiltz 71’s misery continues with another defeat and a last-gasp decider conceded against Union Titus Pétange. Valentin Fuss’s goal keeps Wiltz out of the relegation zone merely on goal difference, being level on points with Fola Esch. Jack Mmaee could return to the pitch after a broken nose suffered last week, but the consequences for the club after the shameful events on Saturday are still being discussed by the federation. 
 
US Hostert are slowly establishing themselves as a raucous attacking force, having scored four goals for two consecutive matches. After a 4-0 against Fola Esch, they have now dismantled fellow newcomers Bettembourg by a score of 4-2. Winger Kenan Avdusinović is leading the scoring charts with 9 goals in 8 appearances so far. 
 
Mondorf and Strassen found no way through one another in a top-half clash between two sides itching to become the surprise package of the season. In an eventful start to the second half, Mirza Hasanbegović’s opener was cancelled out by Matheus within a single minute. In the closing stages, Matheus missed a penalty to put Strassen in front, and thus the 3-point gap (in Strassen’s favour) remains between the two teams. 
 
Former Luxembourg international Dejvid Sinani recorded a brace during Rodange 91 as he found the net for the first time since 4 August. His efforts were supported by goals from Ambroise Gboho and Florent David, helping Swift Hesper ease past their opponents in a game where they could even afford to rest captain Dominik Stolz. Hesper are still well in the race for the title, while Rodange find themselves in an early relegation scrap. 
 
Jeunesse Esch failed to beat 10-man Victoria Rosport despite promising signs from their team last week against Bettembourg. Young midfielder Malo Jungling broke the deadlock on Wednesday in the 68th minute, but the equaliser came soon after, courtesy of Rosport’s Dutch recruit Julian Markvoort. Both sides are languishing in the lower half of the table, barely outside the relegation play-off places.