Almost 1,500 spectators attended Tuesday evening's UEFA Europa League first qualifying round match between Progès Niederkorn and Shamrock Rovers from Dublin, Ireland, in Oberkorn; with a 19:00 kick-off, the balmy evening ensured the water-carriers were busy all match long.
Even though the result was a scoreless draw, both sides tried to get the ball in the back of the opponent's net. While the visitors were favourites going in to the first leg, it was their goalkeeper who earned the plaudits and can be thanked for going into the return leg next week all square, such was Progès' dominance in front of goal. But they could not get past Craig Hyland who made two remarkable second half saves.
The first half, though, saw the visitors predictably on top and were unlucky not to go into the break a goal up, with the home goalkeeper, Sebastian Flauss, in top form. In fact, both sides hit the woodwork in an entertaining, if energy-sapping, game where temperatures started off at 29C.
FC Progrès Niederkorn: Sebastian Flauss; Jonathan Rigo (Adrian Ferino 40), Ismael Bouzid, samuel Dog, David Marques Soares;Hakim Menai (Levy Rougeaux 68), Michael Garos, Olivier Thill, Valentin Poinsignon (Alessandro 80); Olivier Cassan; Giuseppe Rossini.
Shamrock Rovers: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, Dave Webster, Tim Clancy, Luke Byrne; Patrick Cregg, Gary McCabe; Marty Waters (Dylan Kavanagh, 75), Brandon Miele (Cian Kavanagh 81), Gavin Brennan; Mikey Drennan.
Referee: Zaven Hovhannisyan (Armenia).
Attendance: 1,451.
