Racing women are the measure of all things
It was a matter of time: the women of the RFCU Lëtzebuerg were heading towards defending their title – the matter has been fixed since Saturday, four match days before the end of the season. In order not to do things by halves, the undefeated team won 8-0 in Hesperange. The goal difference is more than intoxicating anyway. In 20 games, the Racing players scored 145 times (!) and only conceded ten goals. Coach Elodie Martins’ team won the championship crown for the sixth time in a row. Last year, as is well known, Racing managed to qualify for the second round of the Champions League for the first time.
This year the double is also possible again. The cup final against the current second-placed team, Differdange, is coming up on May 25th. Despite the party atmosphere, Martins had her eyes set on the tasks ahead: “Both the cup final and the next season are already approaching, as the European Cup starts a week earlier this time. The players have the right attitude. They know what to expect,” she explained at the fupa microphone. (chd)
The racing women have achieved their first goal of the season Photo: Editpress/Luis Mangorrinha
The new Wimbledon des Progrès
The club took until Friday to announce the good news on social media. The return to our own pitch was only possible after the obligatory visit by the FLF Stadium Control Commission. The photos that the club then shared only gave hope for good things: the pitch was in top condition for the home premiere in 2025/26. (chd)
It took longer than planned, but Niederkorn is back in his own house Photo: Progrès Niederkorn
Nelson Fragoso pulls a keeper out of his hat
It was probably the biggest surprise of the matchday: Alexandre Boukhetaia guarded the Jeunesse Canach goal. The 46-year-old has been on the player sheet several times over the course of the season, but as a delegate or assistant coach. Since Valentin Roulez is still out and his replacement was not available last week, Nelson Fragoso this time placed his trust in a man with over 200 BGL Ligue games – although his last appearance in the national division was nine years ago. “Unfortunately, it’s the dynamic of the last few weeks: We have a lot of bad luck with injuries. At the moment we have to deal with it that way,” explained the coach, who couldn’t blame his keeper (and goalkeeping coach). “He played his game and I’m grateful to him for helping us out in this situation.” When asked when Boukhetaia started training again, Fragoso said: “He already trained last week. On Saturday it was clear that he would play today (Sunday).” Whether and when number one Valentin Roulez comes back will perhaps be decided next week: the screws have been removed from the finger, now it has to be clarified whether everything has healed correctly. (chd)
All or nothing
“Holleschbierg” not only played the game between the former Becca clubs, but also the game between the merciless ones. In fact, the Swift and the F91 have faced each other 17 times in Hesperange so far, and there has never been a draw. With 13 wins, the Dudelingers had the better record before kick-off. Even in the Pétange-Differdange encounter it was always “all or nothing” before yesterday’s encounter. They have faced each other eight times in the UTP stadium and the points have never been shared. The Petingers celebrated their only home win in February 2023, when they were able to convert a 0-2 deficit into a 4-2 win in the final minutes. After the final whistle, both series held up. The overall balance of the Strassen-Canach encounter before matchday 26 was very even, with one win, one loss and one draw each, and a goal difference of 6:6. (MB)
Hope despite the difficult remaining program
Despite the home defeat against FC Déifferdeng 03, UT Petingen still has every chance of staying in the league. “We have really improved in the last few weeks and have earned this chance. To be honest, I don’t think anyone expected it anymore. We were almost relegated. Today we were very compact again defensively. The rest of the program is difficult, however. We definitely have to take something from the next game in Esch, ideally the three points,” said midfielder Till Hermandung after the end of the game. In addition to the away game at Jeunesse, Petingen also has the games in Mondorf and the home games against Dudelange and Hesperange. (sf)
Skenderovic and Rakic extend
A few hours before the kick-off of the away game in Niederkorn, FC Rodange had good news to announce: Both Aldin Skenderovic and Luca Rakic have extended their contracts early. (chd)
