FC Differdange 03 Retain Luxembourg Cup After Dominant Final Performance

On Friday 29 May 2026, the Loterie Nationale Coupe de Luxembourg final took place at the Stade de Luxembourg, where FC Differdange 03 defeated FC Victoria Rosport 4-1 in front of 5,025 spectators to retain the trophy.

The match came less than a week after Differdange missed out on the BGL Ligue title following a decisive defeat against Atert Bissen on the final day of the season. Having lost the championship race, Yannick Kakoko’s team arrived determined to finish the season by retaining Luxembourg's Cup.

Speaking to Chronicle.lu after the match, Differdange head coach Yannick Kakoko admitted that the days following the title decider had been difficult for his players. “It was mentally tough, but it makes me even more proud of the team that they didn't give up,” he said. “It also helped that we had this opportunity to play the final.”

His players reflected that determination from the opening whistle. Differdange made an aggressive start and created their first opportunity within two minutes. After an attack down the left wing, the ball was cleared behind for a corner. The resulting delivery eventually fell to Juan Bedouret, whose effort from outside the penalty area sailed over the crossbar.

A few minutes later, captain Geoffrey Franzoni came close to opening the scoring. After advancing into the penalty area from the left, he received a lay-off from a teammate but was denied by Victoria goalkeeper Niklas Bürger.

The breakthrough arrived in the seventh minute. Artur Abreu collected the ball on the left edge of the box, cut inside past a defender and curled a shot into the far top corner to give Differdange a 1-0 lead.

Yannick Kakoko described the early opener as a key moment in the final. “It was really important for the confidence and the belief because this was exactly what we wanted to do,” he explained. “We wanted to show from the beginning that it was our final, and the players showed that. That's why I'm really happy.”

The defending cup holders continued to dominate possession and territory. In the nineteenth minute, Niklas Bürger was forced to punch clear from a dangerous corner, while FC Victoria Rosport struggled to create meaningful attacks despite gradually moving play further away from their own goal.

Differdange continued to threaten. Rafael Pereira tested the defence with a shot from a tight angle after entering the penalty area from the left in the 28th minute, but his effort drifted wide. Ten minutes later, Andreas Buch narrowly failed to connect with a cross from Ludovic Rauch, while Rafael Pereira's attempt from the edge of the box in the 41st minute was comfortably gathered by Niklas Bürger.

The pressure eventually produced a second goal just before half-time. In the 43rd minute, Rauch advanced down the left wing before delivering a low cross into the six-yard box. The ball struck Andreas Buch and found its way into the net, giving Differdange a deserved 2-0 advantage at the break.

After the match, Andreas Buch admitted the goal was particularly special given his limited playing time during the season. “It's amazing because I haven't played a lot this season,” he told Chronicle.lu. “To help the team by scoring in the final is fantastic. I think the second goal made the game a little easier for us.” Describing the goal, he added: “Ludovic Rauch played the ball across and I thought I had to take it with my chest.”

Victoria responded positively after the restart. Substitute Jeremy Villeneuve combined well with Albert Ferreira on the left flank early in the second half, with the latter sending a dangerous cross towards Frederick Kyereh that was intercepted by Luiz Filipe Ventura. A few minutes later, Victoria captain Kevin Marques registered his team's first shot on target with an effort from around eighteen metres.

However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly reduced in the 53rd minute. Ludovic Rauch recorded his second assist of the evening when his pass from the right side of the penalty area found Artur Abreu, who controlled the ball before turning and firing home his second goal of the match to make it 3-0.

Victoria nevertheless managed to get on the scoresheet ten minutes later. Villeneuve delivered a low cross which initially appeared harmless, but a touch from Rafael Pereira allowed the ball to reach Frederick Kyereh, who converted from close range to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

The visitors' momentum lasted only four minutes. Bruno Carapeto dos Reis won a penalty for Differdange, and substitute Samir Hadji, who had replaced Andreas Buch shortly after half-time, confidently converted from the spot to restore the three-goal advantage.

Martin Forkel’s team continued to search for a second goal and came close in the 72nd minute when Marko Brkljaca's free-kick from approximately 22 metres cleared the crossbar by around a metre.

Differdange could have added further goals late on. Boris Mfoumou was sent through one-on-one with Bürger in the 81st minute but failed to control the ball properly and shot straight at the goalkeeper. Deep into stoppage time, Mfoumou was again denied by Bürger.

The final whistle confirmed a 4-1 victory for FC Differdange 03, who successfully defended Luxembourg's Cup and lifted the trophy for the second consecutive season.

Attention will now turn to Differdange's UEFA Conference League campaign, although Yannick Kakoko said he was not yet thinking about European football. “For now, let me enjoy today,” he said. “Let me celebrate a little with the fans, the team and the president. Maybe in a few days I will start thinking about that.”

Lineups:

FC Differdange 03: Luiz Filipe Ventura (GK), Artur Abreu, Théo Brusco, Leandro Quintiliano, Andreas Buch, Ludovic Rauch, Rafael Pereira, Geoffrey Franzoni (C), Kevin D'Anzico, Bruno Carapeto dos Reis, Juan Bedouret.

FC Victoria Rosport: Niklas Bürger (GK), Michel Bechtold, Gonçalo Rodrigues, Kevin Marques (С), Frederick Kyereh, Ben Vogel, Jusic Jasin, Marko Brkljaca, Corentin Baudry, Johannes Steinbach, Albert Ferreira.