© Val Wagner
Luxembourg’s two remaining delegates in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers played out four tightly contested matches, each ending 1–0. But while FC Differdange 03 advanced with wins home and away, it marked the end of the road for UNA Strassen, who were edged out by Scotland’s Dundee United.
The matches of the two remaining Luxembourgish delegates in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers saw four 1–0 scorelines. But while Differdange managed to win home and away, it meant the end of the road for UNA Strassen at the hands of Dundee United.
Last season’s BGL Ligue champions, FC Differdange, are through to the penultimate round of the Conference League qualifiers, having kept a pair of clean sheets to defeat their Welsh counterparts, The New Saints.
The opponents, located in England but playing their football in the Welsh league system, have been a dominant force at home for the best part of two decades and managed to reach the league phase of a European competition last season.
This time around, they were regarded as narrow favourites against an FCD side that had suffered home and away losses to Kosovar outfit Drita in the Champions League. However, Pedro Silva’s team bounced back from their early setbacks and found their groove in this tie.
Both matches could have ended with a more flattering scoreline from a Luxembourgish viewpoint, but successive 1–0 wins got the job done at the end of the day. The defensive structure seemed to be back at the levels experienced during the glory days of Pedro Resende, while more and more of the attacks involved incisive link-up play and unexpected solutions as the new signings continue to gel.
In contrast, the second leg was decided by a penalty kick, given after a chaotic corner-kick scramble. With several opportunities squandered, Théo Brusco’s desperate header was intentionally handled by a Welsh defender, resulting in an obvious spot kick. Samir Hadji, one of the most prolific goalscorers in Luxembourg’s UEFA history, slotted it past the goalkeeper without any trouble.
The closing stages of the game still carried some opportunities the hosts could have turned into goals, but the crowd at Stade Municipal could be satisfied with the outcome altogether. Two dominant displays, two wins and two clean sheets – a perfect motivational boost before the start of the domestic season.
The third round of qualifying will see Differdange travel to Estonia to face 2024 champions Levadia Tallinn. Silva and his side will undoubtedly be deemed the underdogs against a professional club, but it seemingly means precious little to this group of players trying to reach the UEFA Conference League proper for the first time as a Luxembourgish team.
UNA Strassen come close but bow out
Ironically, arguably the biggest overperformers from Luxembourg will not be competing in the remainder of the qualifiers.
UNA Strassen were handed a borderline insurmountable task in Scottish side Dundee United, who are back on the international stage for the first time since 2022, and garnered incredible support for the return leg in Differdange on Thursday.
Strassen, heading into that second clash on the back of a loss by the narrowest of margins, took matters into their own hands. They outplayed Dundee in every aspect of the game over the first half, yielding eight opportunities and a superior ball possession rate. Finishing, however, repeatedly let them down.
The second 45 minutes started in a similar way, with manager Stefano Bensi trying to increase the pressure on the visitors by slowly introducing all attacking-minded players he had at his disposal.
By turning to this kamikaze solution, something had to give. Either the much-desired breakthrough would finally happen, or the Tangerines would exploit the increasing number of gaps in UNA’s defensive structure to increase their aggregate lead with the first goal of the night.
It transpired to be the latter, thanks to a well-placed header from a deep free-kick near Koray Özcan’s goal. Scorer Iurie Iovu capitalised on a crucial lapse of attention from Tim Hall to poke home the only goal of the game.
If anything, the increasing number of strikers on the pitch only made the attacking third all too clustered, without the required space for line-breaking passes, creative one-twos or runs in behind. As a result, we witnessed a scruffy last 30 minutes to the game, filled with long-range shots, physical duels and mostly hopeless efforts from the hosts.
The final whistle was blown, and it was Dundee United who earned the chance to face off against Rapid Vienna in the following round. Strassen fans and players can be disappointed with not making the most of some of the opportunities that presented themselves, especially in the second leg.
What ultimately decided the tie was the superior individual quality the Scottish team possessed, coming from a professional league of a reasonably high standard, compared to Luxembourg’s BGL Ligue, which keeps tumbling down the rankings.
To reduce that gap to two (avoidable) goals and two tight games, with Strassen in control for long stretches home and away, is an admirable feat. If they continue on this trajectory, we will see them on the European stage again next year. Maybe in the Champions League.
