It was another disappointing night in Europe for TNS as the JD Cymru Premier champions lost 1-0 to FC Differdange 03 in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League second qualifying round tie.
The Saints were hoping to bounce back from last week’s exit from the UEFA Champions League, but early chances were limited at Park Hall. Dylan Lempereur fired over for the visitors before Harvey Godsmark-Ford – making his first start for TNS – did the same.
Craig Harrison’s side were having joy down the left hand side, with Dominic Corness and Ben Wilson both delivering dangerous looking crosses which Differdange goalkeeper Felipe did well to collect.
But it was the Luxembourg champions who took the lead eight minutes before half-time when Theo Brusco’s clipped ball over the top found Artur Abreu, who held off Jordan Marshall and fired low past Nathan Shepperd at the near post.
The lead was almost doubled before half-time but Adrien Mfoumou could not meet Abreu’s cross with a clean connection, while it was a similar story early in the second period when Geoffrey Franzoni’s menacing low delivery was tapped just wide by Samir Hadji. Shepperd was forced to deny Leandro Borges and Hadji as Differdange continued to push for a second goal.
TNS thought they had equalised with 84 minutes on the clock when Aramide Oteh tapped in Ken Charles’ low ball at the back post, but the offside flag was raised against the former QPR striker.
Harrison’s men will travel to Luxembourg for the second leg on Tuesday 28 July (KO 19:00 BST), but their European journey will be over for another year if they cannot turn the tie around.
