13 goals in three games. That’s what the newly-promoted side have shipped in since their return to action, against Differdange, Rumelange and Rosport – a traditional powerhouse and two teams largely languishing in the bottom half throughout the season.
A surprise elimination from the Luxembourgish Cup at the hands of amateurs Grevenmacher on 20 September created the impression that Walfer will be more than happy to go on a fortnight-long break as their initial form had started to tail off.
Instead, it turned out to be a grim foreshadowing of their situation. Differdange ran riot against them in their most complete performance of the season so far. Bouncing back and showing some attacking edge was the bare minimum expectation at Stade Prince Henri on the weekend that followed. That was fulfilled thanks to talismanic captain Patrik Macedo springing back into form and coming up with a second-half brace to tie the game.
Otherwise, though, a draw against a ten-man Rumelange side was seen as disappointing. Youth international Clayton Irigoyen was pulling the strings from midfield, contributing with two assists before getting on the scoresheet himself. Walfer had no way to stop him from getting the final passes right.
On Sunday, it was more of the same against Victoria Rosport. Two of the four goals conceded owed to sloppy defending and amateur individual mistakes – a failed attempt to play out from the back for the opener after only eight minutes, and goalkeeper Ricardo de Paiva getting caught in no man’s land for Alexis Pereira’s late fourth.
Walferdange, playing in the BGL Ligue for the first time in their history, surprised many by largely sticking with the same squad that earned them promotion via the play-offs. They had hundreds of games of lower-league football spread around the positions, but no real, proven top-tier options in their starting lineup. Macedo, their main source of threat up front, had never played a top-flight game in his life.
In that context, it’s fair to say that the newcomers had been punching above their weight. Like many underdogs before, they took the league by storm and established a place for themselves far from relegation troubles early on.
What usually happens in these cases is less encouraging for Patrick Oliveira Carvalho’s men. We have seen sides start strongly before gradually tumbling down the table in the spring as the long season takes its toll and momentum fades. More often than not, it ends in relegation.
Walfer have still amassed 16 points from 11 games, and boast five wins, five losses and a solitary draw. That is an impressive record by itself, and one they can build on. They will now have to play 15th-placed Wiltz before the next international window. Dropping any more points here would be the most painful result in Walfer’s dreadful recent run. Can another break get them back on track in November?
Differdange navigate stern test against rivals
FCD have been enjoying life since football returned earlier this month, scoring freely and closing in on league leaders UNA Strassen, now only trailing by a single point. Based on recent form, they are once again looking like the team to beat in the Grand Duchy.
Yet they faced an unexpected challenge on Sunday from one of their biggest historical rivals – albeit one who had to redefine their expectations ahead of this campaign. F91 Dudelange have not always been convincing this year (more often than not, they were outright disappointing), and have not really managed to show up against top opponents so far.
The Yellows have already faced all of the teams in the bottom five and took a combined 13 points off those games, only drawing against Hostert and beating the other four comfortably. They are, however, yet to earn a single point from anyone above that group, illustrating how the realistic aim for the team is now to stay above the dogfight and nail the must-win games, without having a chance to aim much higher.
Having scored 11 goals in their last two outings, the goals for Differdange dried up this time, though. Elijah Benedict and Jude Sunday were both ineffective, while Corentin Jean picked up two yellow cards in the space of three minutes to leave his team a man behind for the majority of the game.
The breakthrough came against the flow of the game as a courageous F91 side were stopped by a Sébastien Thill counter-attack. The Luxembourg international played Ludovic Rauch in behind the defence, before making a run to receive a cut-back and rifle into the net from point-blank range.
The overarching narrative of the first half had been of Differdange making life difficult for themselves against their organised and hungry opponents, but tensions flared when F91 striker Herman Moussaki joined Jean in the dugouts, receiving his own second yellow. Going into half-time, it was a balanced affair, with one moment of ingenuity separating the sides.
And with so often in the beginning of the season, when they had to play without a recognised striker in the absences of Jean and Benedict, Differdange once again adapted and evolved. This wasn’t going to be their attackers’ best showing, but the midfield duo of Thill and Rauch stepped up when it was needed the most.
After the hour mark, it was Thill who turned provider, scrambling to reach a misplaced pass and tee up the Frenchman, who executed one of his trademark long-range missiles to double the lead.
There was still some excitement and drama left for the final stages, though, as F91 Dudelange were awarded a late penalty. The young Ivan Englaro, improving every week, dispatched it calmly and sent his team looking for a late equaliser.
In a heated atmosphere, we witnessed a red card (for Differdange skipper Geoffrey Franzoni), three yellow cards for the boys in yellow, but ultimately no goals. FCD, who made football look so easy and played with such swagger all month to date, had to hold on for dear life there, against a fallen competitor.
This was by far Dudelange’s most complete performance against a team higher up the table, and bodes well for the future. For Differdange, the best news (apart from the three points) was the return of Artur Abreu, who was finally named on the bench after over five months on the sidelines.
Six goals in one half: Can Racing keep their consistency?
Arguably the most-awaited game of the weekend delivered on its promise: plenty of duels, cagey defending and plenty of missed opportunities were all on show in the first half. And then it turned into a rout.
Racing FC Union Luxembourg found the net six times against a Mondorf side crumbling under the pressure, their second-choice goalkeeper Andy Gonzalez not making much of a case for himself to stay in the XI upon João Machado’s return.
The Sky Blues were already dominating the first half, but Mondorf’s defence persisted, while the post also saved them on a few occasions. Despite fielding a rather defensive-minded lineup, the Angry Goats were still regularly outnumbered by their opponent’s front four, who regularly switched positions to create openings. Dominik Stolz would often come back to collect from the midfielders, while wingers Ronan Matuvangua and Moussa Kanté were also frequently moving inside to offer an extra option in the box.
After the break, the tide has turned. All that had been going against the club from the City started magically going their way – goalkeeper blunders, lucky deflections, tight offside calls – and each goal spurred Racing’s players on further.
In a madcap 15 minutes where they scored five times in rapid succession, they looked progressively hungrier with each time they found the back of the net. From Amadou Konaté’s lucky header to Matuvangua’s brilliant solo effort, Mondorf’s defenders were always missing a beat and goalkeeper Gonzalez’s performance only exacerbated matters.
The hosts were on for a five-star triumph, but another opportunity presented itself in the final half hour, and Kanté’s free kick eventually bounced into captain Ikene’s path, who finished calmly. The visitors’ only dangerous opportunity during the entire game was a lone Tinelli strike in the first half, with the game still at a deadlock.
For anyone doubting USM after Sunday, it needs to be said that the difference between the two sides is probably much narrower in reality, and was heavily influenced by momentum and one-off mistakes from the defence. Martin Forkel is renowned for being able to build a tough, organised defence and the Angry Goats will bounce back after Sunday, sooner rather than later.
Racing, however, have just switched to an even higher gear, one many didn’t believe existed. Since the last international break, they have kept a point at home against a resurgent Atert Bissen, stopped UNA Strassen’s perfect start to the season away from home, and now put six past one of the country’s strongest outfits.
Since being founded in 2005, RFCUL have already won the Luxembourgish Cup on two occasions, and finished runners-up in the league once (in 2007/08). Yet, if they can continue their current form, this might well become the Sky Blues’ best-ever season in terms of success and entertainment.
Challenging for the title might be a step too far given they are still eight points off Differdange in second, but a race for Europe is on the cards.
Around the pitches
Etzella Ettelbruck were the first victors of the weekend, surprisingly defeating Progrès Niederkorn at Saturday’s only game. Even a red card for defender Keleb Nwubani didn’t stop them from recording their second clean sheet of the season (the first one was against Hesperange) and climbing out of the automatic relegation zone. The Wasps continue to struggle in front of goal and have now suffered a second consecutive loss.
Swift Hesperange lost another game of football as they conceded three times to Jeunesse Esch at home. They have only scored against Wiltz 71 all season (in a match where they conceded seven), and are conceding over 3.7 goals per game so far. Whether they can register a point by the end of the season remains to be seen as the club is battling for survival.
UNA Strassen made light work of struggling Hostert at Stade Jos Becker, with striker Babou Sèye scoring each side of the break. The hosts put on a respectable display but it was not enough to tame a rampant Strassen side, who are still leading the table with ten wins and a single draw, conceding only three times along the way. Hostert are still outside the relegation zone, but have a tricky trip to Mondorf coming up.
Two of the most in-form teams faced off in Bascharage, where Käerjéng hosted Atert Bissen. Last year’s champions had a long and exhausting pre-season which set them back at the start, but they seem to be rediscovering their groove, scoring twice in the first half here to establish a comfortable lead. Lars Gerson’s late penalty was only a consolation as UNK fell to a loss for the first time since early September.
US Rumelange have played out a second 3-3 draw in a row, against another newly-promoted opponent in Wiltz 71. USR’s disciplinary issues are even more alarming than their defensive woes, though: last week it was Thomas Schroeder who was sent off, while this time, Clayton Irigoyen was sent packing early. The draw itself helped no one, as they remain the two last-placed teams in the division, excluding Hesperange, who will all but finish the campaign rooted to the bottom.
