Ilves begin Conference League campaign with stalemate in Luxembourg

[p]A difficult evening looked to be in store for the Finnish side, who didn't manage a shot on target in the first half, while goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/krkalic-faris/SI7CTkL3/"]Faris Krkalic[/a] was equal to efforts from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bedouret-juan/pEP61iX6/"]Juan Bedouret[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rivas-elison/bXv0O4Tq/"]Elison Rivas[/a].[/p][p]But [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ilves/pYGmWmwa/"]Ilves[/a] grew into the contest after half-time, enjoying more of the ball as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kanga-jardell/EuUxbUbQ/"]Jardell Kanga[/a] went close with a free-kick before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/popovitch-anton/nJlVSs5I/"]Anton Popovitch[/a] went close soon after.[/p][p]However, the Lynx were unable to find a way through, and had to settle for a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/differdange-pSWVqtMr/ilves-pYGmWmwa/?mid=8dkokFEa"]0-0 draw[/a] after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hytonen-teemu/S0H1AjT1/"]Teemu Hytonen[/a] had two efforts thwarted in added time.[/p][embed guid="43a14bad-567b-4bd5-9d09-1329333dd33a" url="https://x.com/ilvesfootball/status/2074938615319191997" social-type="twitter" /][p]Knocked out in the Third Qualifying Round two seasons ago and the Second Qualifying Round last year, the Tampere side are aiming to reverse that recent trend and reach the League Phase for the first time, something their compatriots [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kups/nLBbqJDS/"]KuPS[/a] managed last season.[/p][p]They have put themselves in a good position ahead of the second leg at home on 16th July, but will be wary that last season's runners-up in the Luxembourg league got to the Play-Off round 12 months ago.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/europe/conference-league/"]Follow the UECL Qualifiers on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]