Derry City were frustrated as they began their Europa Conference League campaign at HB Torshavn.
The Candy Stripes were disappointing for long periods and never really got going. Their tempo for much of this first leg encounter was slow. While Will Patching and Jamie McGonigle injected more life in their performance after the break, their possession-based performance didn't warrant a victory.
The home side, who had started the game the better, went close to taking a 14th-minute lead but Emil Berger's curling 25-yard strike, which had City keeper Brian Maher beaten all ends up, came crashing back off the post.
Moments later more good play down their right ended with Hanus Sorensen's drilled in centre finding Dan I Soylu just inside the box, but he blazed over when well placed. City decided to change things around just after the half-hour mark as they looked to get into the tie with Michael Duffy moving into a more central position.
Duffy started to become a big player for a few minutes as he teed up Paul McMullan, but the winger's shot from 20 yards was gathered by Bjarti Mork, while Cameron Dummigan's long-range shot was pushed away by the Tórshavn keeper.
Maher was called into action right on the stroke of half-time as Viljormur Davidsen's left wing cross found Mads Borchers' but his first-time, side-footed strike from 15 yards was straight at the Derry keeper. Derry made a double change at the break with McGonigle and Patching replacing Ben Doherty and Daniel Mullen.
On the hour mark McGonigle went close but his angled drive from the right hand side of the six yard box was well kept out by a diving Mork.
Tórshavn should have taken a 72nd minute lead but substitute Matthias Praest saw his close range shot saved by a fortunate Maher, who's initial punch clearance had fallen to the midfielder inside the box.
Ciaran Coll replaced Cameron McJannet on 80 minutes and the ex-Finn Harps man nearly scored with his first touch, as Patching's right wing free-kick found the left-back, but his powerful header was saved by Mork.
Mork had to make another top save soon after this time diving to his left to keep out Duffy's 20 yard pile driver. In stoppage time Derry thought they were going to win it, but after steadying himself McGonigle's close range shot was charged down by Samuel Chukwudi, while Brandon Kavanagh also went close as his strike was saved by Mork.
HB Tórshavn: Bjarti Mørk, Viljormur Davidsen, Hordur Askham, Hanus Sorensen, Adrian Justinussen, Dan Í Soylu (Trondur Jensen 86), Aki Samuelsen (Jakup Thomsen 63), Mads Borchers, Bartal Wardum (Samuel Chukwudi 86), Emil Berger, Ari Jónsson (Matthias Praest 64).
Derry City: Brian Maher, Shane McEleney, Mark Connolly, Cameron McJannet (Ciaran Coll 80); Ronan Boyce, Sadou Diallo (Patrick McEleney 62), Cameron Dummigan, Ben Doherty (Will Patching HT); Paul McMullan (Brandon Kavanagh 62), Daniel Mullen (Jamie McGonigle HT), Michael Duffy.
Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes (Norway).
Elsewhere in the Europa Conference League, Chris McKee's double helped Linfield get their campaign up and running with a 3-1 win against Vllaznia Shkoder in the first round of qualifying.
McKee scored twice in the second half before Jack Scott made it 3-0, but Daniel Finlayson was sent off for the Blues after picking up a second yellow card in the closing stages and Marko Juric pulled a goal back from the resulting free-kick.
Linfield will now look to finish the job in next week’s second leg in Albania.
Ross Clarke’s second-half strike saw Crusaders come from behind to earn a 2-2 first-leg draw against Haka in Finland.
Midfielder Jordan Forsythe opened the scoring for the Northern Irish visitors in the 22nd minute, but their lead was short-lived as Logan Rogerson levelled from the spot and Tiemoko Fofana put Haka ahead soon after.
However, the hosts were reduced to 10 men in the second half when Janne-Pekka Laine was shown two yellow cards in quick succession and Crusaders took advantage as Clarke found the equaliser from a free-kick.
Glentoran were also held to a 2-2 draw in their clash at Gzira.
The Belfast outfit had an early chance to go ahead two minutes in when Chukwuemeka Uzokwe missed from the penalty spot, but the striker soon made up for his mistake with the opener seven minutes later.
Gzira hit back to claim a half-time lead through Jose Wilkson and Brooklyn Borg but Rhys Marshall levelled in second half for Glentoran.
