Differdange trail by a goal in bid for Europe

Last season’s Kosovar champions Drita inflicted a 2-1 defeat on FC Differdange at the Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri on Thursday, in what was the sides’ third head-to-head match this season.

In an unusual twist of the qualifying draws, the two teams faced each other twice in the space of a month – first after Differdange’s Champions League exit, and again following the elimination of their initial opponents, this time in Europe’s third-tier competition, the UEFA Conference League.

The chance for redemption came after two solid game plans and impressive displays from Pedro Silva’s crew, who knocked out Welsh outfit The New Saints and reigning Estonian champions Levadia Tallinn after a dramatic finale. The improvements from the start of the season have therefore been clear, but the question remained: can the players move on from being outplayed by Drita in July, and turn the tide?

Last time around, Drita recorded back-to-back wins to push Differdange to the brink of European elimination altogether. Changes have happened to the Luxembourgers’ squad since, but the starting line-ups remained largely the same. The only difference: Ludovic Rauch’s recovery from a severe injury. 
The clubs knew each other’s plans with and without the ball intricately thanks to the recent meetings, putting the emphasis more on individual abilities and the players’ intelligence to adapt to emerging situations and solve problems spontaneously.

The result of the changed approach was a much tighter game, with a patient but slightly dominant Drita, and a much more disciplined and confident Differdange compared to the Champions League outings. Silva’s players gelled together during their recent successes on the road, and lived up to the expectations, pinning their opponents back at times to create opportunities.

It took a few minor slip-ups and lapses of concentration from the defensive unit and journeyman goalkeeper Felipe for the hosts to punish one of them, but it happened after the first half-hour, when a devastating run from Veton Tusha took out the entire defence, leaving midfielder Albert Dabiqaj with a tap-in to open the scoring.

The teams went into the half-time break with the Kosovars holding a deserved lead, as Differdange struggled to gain a foothold due to poor decision-making and sluggish finishing in the final third. After 45 minutes, it seemed a narrow one-goal defeat might actually serve FCD well, limiting the damage ahead of the second leg at Stade Municipal.

Differdange made one change at half-time as they took off Rafa Pinto for the explosive Boris Mfoumou, whose direct runs and flair are proven game-changing elements at this level.

Silva’s plan to exploit the opponents’ tired legs paid off, with the overall game pattern remaining largely the same, but the Reds posing far greater danger with their few attempts on goal.

It took 19 minutes for one of these chances to materialise. After a clearance from a corner, Mfoumou’s whipped cross was met with an acrobatic header by Andreas Buch, who once again got on the scoresheet after his heroic brace in Estonia last week.

Currently, Buch’s role as the team’s super-sub seems to be benefiting both player and club. The German scored the equaliser only two minutes after coming on for Artur Abreu, while his incisive performance against Levadia also came after an 81st-minute change. Shortly before these displays, though, he was tried in the starting XI against Atert Bissen and failed to make any impact on the game.

Judging by the opening periods of the second half, Differdange seemed firmly in control and more than capable of turning the tie around and returning to Luxembourg with a goal advantage.

What happened then was a succession of the costliest mistakes the team have committed over the entire course of their European campaign so far. A slight shove by Dylan Lempereur inside the box was deemed a foul by referee Al Hakim, who awarded a penalty Drita easily converted.

Differdange pushed for a result in the closing stages, still appearing capable of turning the tide with a late attacking surge. Instead, the opposite unfolded: an unfortunate yet reckless challenge from Mfoumou led to a straight red card after a VAR review, ruling the Cameroonian out of the return leg. His absence could prove costly for FCD unless they seize the initiative early next week.

While the outcome was disappointing, Silva and his staff will no doubt take valuable lessons from Drita’s approach ahead of the decisive clash in Differdange. The setback may yet serve as a positive omen: in the previous round, a seemingly hopeless defeat to Levadia Tallinn was spectacularly overturned in extra time. That comeback underlined Differdange’s resilience in the face of late drama – a quality they will need once again to rise to the occasion.