FC Differdange 03 vs. The New Saints
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
FC Differdange 03 match moved to Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025
UEFA confirm that the home leg will now take place on Wednesday, July 23rd, not Thursday, July 24th as previously advertised. The second leg will take place at 7pm UK time on Tuesday, July 29th at the Stade Municipal de la V
The allows more recovery and organisational time before the second leg, which will take place at 7pm UK time on Tuesday, July 29th at the Stade Municipal de la Ville de Differdange in Luxembourg.
For supporters who have already purchased tickets, these will remain valid for the rearranged home leg, but if you are unable to make the new date, please contact simon.oreilly@tnsfc.co.uk.
Tickets are on sale now via Fanbase, and full details can be found HERE.
The New Saints vs FC Differdange 03 – Fixture and ticketing details
Craig Harrison’s side will play FC Differdange 03 in the UEFA Conference League. The first leg of the second qualifying round tie will be played at Park Hall Stadium on Wednesday, July 23rd, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm BST. Tickets for the match are now on sale via Fanbase.
After elimination from the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night at the hands of KF Shkëndija, Craig Harrison’s side get another shot at European football in the competition in which they made history last season.
The first leg of the second qualifying round tie will be played at Park Hall Stadium on Wednesday, July 23rd, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm BST.
Tickets for the match are now on sale via Fanbase.
There are three types of tickets available to purchase for this fixture, each listed below:
General ticket – £22
Concession ticket (valid for over 65s) – £15
U18s – £8
In addition, for just an extra £35, all supporters have the option of upgrading their ticket to enjoy pre-match hospitality in the Henstone Distillery Suite. To do so, simply choose your seat, and select the hospitality bolt on which appears on screen before you complete your purchase.
Adult club members will receive a 20% discount on their UEFA Conference League tickets, while junior members will receive 50% off, so why not become a member today? Click HERE to join!
This is an all-ticket fixture, and all orders must be completed online. For more information, contact admin@tnsfc.co.uk .
KF Shkëndija 2-1 The New Saints (AET): match report
The light of the night will be on whether or not this is the beginning of the end of the “wall’s’ influence on the internet, but it was the first-half of the year to see the effects of this article on the Internet, and it was not the same as this article, but the effect of this could be felt for the future of the internet. This article is not claiming to be the full report on the influence of this story, but there is a lot of hope for this article to be a lot more than this. This is not the full story of the story, it is the start of a new way to look at this article. The article is the first of several possible ways to see how this article can be read for the year of the Internet. The story of this report could be read in the comments below, but this article is more than that.Here is the story of how the story could be told in this report, but not as much as the report on this report.
The teams are in ahead of tonight’s UEFA Champions League first qualifying round second leg against KF Shkëndija. Craig Harrison makes one change, which sees Kade Craig replace the injured Leo Smith. #UCL | #TNSFC pic.twitter.com/9Vs1vPHXgh — The New Saints FC (@tnsfc) July 15, 2025
Goals: J. Williams (38)
Yellow cards: Brobbel (36), Bodenham (80), Shepperd (109) Holden (120+2), Oteh (120+5), Corness (120+6)
Substitutions: Clark for Wilson (67), Godsmark-Ford for Craig (67), Marshall for Redmond (82), Charles for Corness (99), Oteh for Brobbel (119), Cieslewicz for J. Williams (119)
Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones
The New Saints suffered heartbreak in North Macedonia, as they were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League following a goal deep into extra-time.
Shkëndija started the night brightly, taking the lead in the 18th minute, but the Saints responded well, and Jordan Williams equalised seven minutes before the break.
With neither side able to make the breakthrough, penalties looked destined in Skopje, but an unfortunate ricochet in the 116th minute meant Jack Bodenham turned the ball past his own goalkeeper, and the JD Cymru Premier champions fell at the first hurdle.
The home side were causing problems from the off, and it was almost disaster inside the opening two minutes for Craig Harrison’s side.
After finding space inside the penalty area, Liridon Latifi struck the woodwork with a powerful strike, but the JD Cymru Premier champions managed to scramble the loose ball clear.
The visitors were having to do plenty of defending in the early stages, and Nathan Shepperd came to his side’s rescue in the 10th minute with a superb double-save, first denying Fabrice Tamba and then Endrit Krasniqi, to keep the aggregate score level.
Three minutes later, it was the Saints’ turn to cause problems, and with their first foray forward, they found the back of the net.
It was Ben Wilson the man who beat home goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye, but the summer signing looked to his right to see the offside flag raised.
With 18 minutes on the clock, however, the opening goal of the game finally did arrive and it was Shkëndija who scored it.
A drilled cross from Besart Ibraimi was turned home at the back post by Tamba, and suddenly the visitors’ job became a lot harder.
The hosts’ captain continued to cause problems throughout the opening-half, and 10 minutes later he almost helped himself to a goal with a looping effort from a tight angle.
But after soaking up the initial onslaught, Harrison’s side began to enjoy a sustained spell of possession, and seven minutes before the break, they made it count.
Jordan Williams took advantage when an effort from Dan Williams took a wicked deflection off home defender Imran Fetai and fell kindly into his path, calmly stroking home into the empty net to send the sides in level at the break.
Following the restart, chances arrived much less frequently than they did in the first-half, but with 59 minutes on the clock, Danny Redmond curled narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area after a short corner routine.
Thirteen minutes from time, there was a great chances for substitute Ben Clark to gives his side the lead for the first time in the tie after some great vision from Rory Holden, but the Academy graduate was off balance as he attempted his shot, and the ball went behind for a goal kick.
Moments later, there was a big let off for the Saints, as Ibraimi sent a header narrowly wide at the near post.
Eight minutes from time, there was another scare for the visitors when referee Sayat Karabayev awarded Shkëndija a penalty after a foul on Fetai by Harrison McGahey.
After a lengthy VAR review though, the decision was overturned due to an offside in the build-up, and the North Macedonian side were denied the chance to score from the spot.
The impressive Shepperd continued to perform well as the game wore on, making a crucial save in second-half stoppage time to take the match to extra-time, then denying Ibraimi six minutes into the additional period.
It was a resolute defensive performance from the Saints in near 30°C heat, and after two evenly-matched legs, the tie looked to be heading for a penalty shootout.
That was until a cross by Fiton Ademi was inadvertently turned past his own goalkeeper by the unfortunate Jack Bodenham in the 116th minute of the match, making the score 2-1, and giving the visitors very little time to respond.
The clock wasn’t on their side, and despite throwing bodies forward in the little time that remained, it was to no avail, and The New Saints were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League at the first hurdle.
Harrison’s side now drop into the UEFA Conference League, where they’ll take on FC Differdange 03 of Luxembourg in the second qualifying round.
The first leg will take place at Park Hall Stadium on Thursday, July 24th, with full details confirmed in due course.
Penybont and Haverfordwest exit Europe
JD Cymru Premier sides left standing after the conclusion of the first qualifying rounds. The New Saints will continue their European campaign via the UEFA Conference League route, after a 2-1 extra-time defeat to KF Shkendija. Haverfordwest County bowed out of the UEFA conference League with a 3-2 defeat to Floriana (5-3 on aggregate) on what was an incident-packed night at Parc y Scarlets. Penybont faced an uphill battle in the UEFA. Conference League after losing 3-0 to Kauno Zalgiris in Lithuania last week, but Rhys Griffiths’ side restored some pride with a battling 1-1 draw at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium to exit 4-1 on aggregate. Nathan Wood marked his first start since New Year’s Eve with his first goal for the club in a goalless draw at Park Hall. The Welsh side will now face Luxembourg champions FC Differdange 03 on Wednesday 23 July (KO 19:00 BST)
The Saints will continue their European campaign via the UEFA Conference League route, after a 2-1 extra-time defeat to KF Shkendija saw the Oswestry side eliminated from the UEFA Champions League.
Craig Harrison’s side travelled to North Macedonia following a closely-contested goalless draw at Park Hall last week, but the hosts quickly established themselves. Liridon Latifi hit the woodwork, before new Saints goalkeeper Nathan Shepperd needed to make a superb double save to deny Fabrice Tamba and then Endrit Krasniqi.
Jordan Williams found the scoresheet for TNS in North Macedonia
The pressure eventually told in the 18th minute, when Shepperd tipped Besart Ibraimi’s powerful drive across goal into the path of Tamba, who drove in the rebound.
TNS interrupted the host’s dominance as they clawed their way back onto level terms seven minutes before half-time, when Jordan Williams slotted into a wide-open goal after Ryan Brobbel’s hopeful attempt had taken a kind deflection.
A midfield battle ensued in the second period that saw both sides collectively run out of steam, before Shkendija were awarded a late penalty only for VAR to overturn the decision.
The two teams remained stuck at a deadlock in extra-time and penalties seemed a formality until Jack Bodenham despairingly prodded Fiton Ademi’s cutback into his own net in the 116th minute.
Click here JD Cymru Leagues transfer tracker – 2025/26 Click here
Defeat means that TNS will now face Luxembourg champions FC Differdange 03 in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round, with the first leg at Park Hall on Wednesday 23 July (KO 19:00 BST).
Haverfordwest County bowed out of the UEFA Conference League with a 3-2 defeat to Floriana (5-3 on aggregate) on what was an incident-packed night at Parc y Scarlets.
The Bluebirds, trailing 2-1 to their Maltese opponents from the first leg, got off to the best possible start when Greg Walters fired in a loose ball in the box from close range on 11 minutes, before Ben Ahmum’s outrageous curling finish from the left of the area doubled the Bluebirds’ lead just six minutes later and put them ahead in the tie.
Ben Ahmun scored a stunning goal to put Haverfordwest ahead in the tie
Floriana quickly responded through Carlo Zammit Lonardelli’s deflected strike, which restored parity on aggregate, but there was little to suggest of the drama that was to unfold.
Haverfordwest’s night began to sour when Alaric Jones conceded a penalty just before half-time that would also earn the defender his second yellow card of the night. Jake Grech, who made no mistake from the spot in the first leg, produced another composed finish from 12 yards to give the visitors the equaliser on the night and the advantage on aggregate.
Competing with 10 men finally took its toll on valiant County in the second half, with Charles M’Mombwa’s sharp near-post finish extending the visitors’ aggregate lead on 67 minutes before Rhys Abbruzzese’s second yellow card in stoppage time reduced the Bluebirds contingent on the pitch even further.
Penybont faced an uphill battle in the UEFA Conference League after a 3-0 first leg defeat to Kauno Zalgiris in Lithuania last week, but Rhys Griffiths’ side restored some pride with a battling 1-1 draw at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium to exit 4-1 on aggregate.
Nathan Wood celebrates his first European goal for Penybont
Bont showed early signs of promise as Owen Pritchard’s curling effort bounced off the post, but Zalgiris extended their lead in the tie with Colombian defender Aldayr Hernandez’s glancing header from Gratas Sirgedas’ corner on 13 minutes.
It took Penybont just four minutes to find an equaliser on the night as Nathan Wood marked his first start since New Year’s Eve in style. The forward created space for himself in the box with some quick feet before drilling a low shot through a crowd into the bottom corner.
Zalgiris looked to score a second of the game after the break when Temur Chogadze’s angled finish rolled dangerously past the Penybont post, before Gabriel Kircough blazed over late on for Bont.
Champions League history in Malta and dancing on the streets of Andorra
Bigger Cup is up and running, baby, as we officially wave goodbye to “last season’ and welcome “this season” Tuesday’s first qualifying round second legs brought the drama Uefa desperately needs to make the competition entertaining before the drudge of matches from September to January. Almost certainly none of the teams currently playing in the qualifying rounds will reach the league stage but we should let Hamrun Spartans, Lincoln Red Imps and Drita dream … for a bit. The prospect of facing Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and FC Basel is over for another year for the likes of The New Saints, Differdange 03 and Virtus, who will have to wipe away the tears, pull their socks up and go again in Tin Pot.Join Sarah Rendell from 8pm BST for Euro 2025 quarter-final MBM coverage of Norway 2-1 Italy. The evolution of the football season is well and truly under way. Click here for more football news.
Bigger Cup is up and running, baby, as we officially wave goodbye to “last season” and welcome “this season”. The question of when we enter a new campaign is eternally asked; it’s like the quandary of where the north of England starts (anything above Bristol Stoke, if you were wondering), and Football Daily is happy to provide the definitive answer of … roundabout now. Tuesday’s first qualifying round second legs brought the drama Uefa desperately needs to make the competition entertaining before the drudge of matches from September to January. Unfortunately for the suits in Switzerland, almost certainly none of the teams currently playing in the qualifying rounds will reach the league stage but we should let Hamrun Spartans, Lincoln Red Imps and Drita dream … for a bit. At the same time, the prospect of facing Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and FC Basel is over for another year for the likes of The New Saints, Differdange 03 and Virtus, who will have to wipe away the tears, pull their socks up and go again in Tin Pot.
Permanent Welsh champions TNS went down to a 116th-minute own goal against Macedonia’s Shkendija to lose 2-1 on the night and on aggregate. Football Daily might even have watched it on S4C due to our commitment to the underdog and love of Welsh commentary. “There is one thing everyone can be proud of through the club, it’s that everyone gave everything that they had,” chirped manager Craig Harrison. “No one could give anything more and sometimes that’s all you can ask.” There was greater cruelty for Lithuania’s Zalgaris, who last won a two-legged Big Cup tie in 2000, as they were sent packing by Malta’s mighty Hamrun Spartans 11-10 on penalties after 28 spot-kicks. It is the first time a Maltese side have made it beyond this round, becoming part of football history in the process.
Even in defeat there can be triumph. Andorra’s national team are ranked 173rd in the world, therefore when their best and brightest, Inter Club d’Escaldes, drew Romanian giants FCSB, who won the competition back in the 1986 by beating Barcelona, when they were known as Steaua, no one gave them a chance. Inter Club d’Escaldes obviously lost over two legs because FCSB possess the former Tottenham defender Vlad Chiriches and ex-Port Vale man Dennis Politic. Respectfully beaten 3-1 in the Romanian capital, a lesser team would have given up and gone through the motions. But Inter Club could not let down the 509 fans inside the Nou Estadi Encamp and ran out 2-1 winners, exiting by a single-goal margin. The names of Sascha Andreu and Alexandre Llovet will be sung on the streets of Escaldes–Engordany for years to come.
Dynamo Kyiv, Slovan Bratislava and Crvena Zvezda enter in the next round, readying themselves to bring their lesser-known rivals back down to earth and restore the natural order at the top of the second qualifying round tree. Come May, the ending will doubtless be the same given that the biggest clubs win the biggest prizes, but the summer months provide a reminder that football is more than just millionaires battling for trinkets and there is still glory to be had for those other professionals who can say they are Bigger Cup players. The evolution of the football season is well and truly under way.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“As you may be aware, other clubs seem to go through much more protracted disputes with less severe outcomes. Many believe that this process has been opaque and disproportionately punitive. We hope you will take this matter seriously and act to uphold the principles of fairness, accountability, and integrity in sport” – part of the contents of a letter from seven Liberal Democrat MPs to culture secretary Lisa Nandy, urging her to intervene over Crystal Palace’s demotion from Bigger Vase, following a fan protest on the streets of south London on Tuesday.
View image in fullscreen Some off-season flares work outside Selhurst Park. Photograph: Tom Dulat/Getty Images
Apropos the article on Puma’s deal with Manchester City (yesterday’s Football Daily), a shout out please for their retro-inspired 2025-26 strips produced for Port Vale’s 150th anniversary. Pleasingly sponsor-free and designed by supporters (OK, the boss’s son) rather than some PR wonk, they are the absolute business” – Rob Ford.
Re: yesterday’s Football Daily letters. For the last 30 years I’ve lived roughly a Rory Delap throw-in away from the Auld Triangle/Plimsoll in Finsbury Park. On a visit to the Irish Emigration Musuem in Dublin a few years ago, my daughter was surprised to see a faithful reproduction of the pre-gastro incarnation set up as an example of the type of pub that the Irish diaspora has created around the world. I’ve no idea if it is still an exhibit there, but possibly worth a trip for anyone who misses the old days. I don’t think they have a replica Robbie doing the quiz, mind” – Brendan Mackinney.
If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Rob Ford. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here.