Here is Simon Spender’s team for tonight’s match. #UYL pic.twitter.com/qEsGyD2IUz
— The New Saints Academy (@TNSAcademy) October 1, 2024
Yellow cards: Nuttall (39)
Substitutions: Wynne for Blaze (57), McCue for Humphreys (57) , Summers for Nuttall (57), Roberts for Blayney (77), Hidazsmol for Afful (77)
Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Brian Jones
The New Saints under-19s exited the UEFA Youth League in the first domestic champions round in a 7-2 loss on aggregate to FK Žalgiris, and 4-0 on the night at Park Hall Stadium.
Patrik Matyžonok and Romualdas Jansonas both scored braces to seal the tie for the visitors.
Early on in the game, Caleb Afful had a shot inside the penalty area, where the effort was stopped by Joris Aliukonis.
In the 20th minute, FK Žalgiris skipper, Romualdas Jansonas, had a shot from corner, and Jack Edwards was there to make the save at the near post.
Just past the half hour mark, James Nuttall had a strike from just outside the box that deflected wide.
Two minutes on, Harry Clayton took a 20-yard free-kick that was caught by Joris Aliukonis.
Later in the half, Žalgiris took the lead on the night. A through ball found Patrik Matyžonok, who ran around Jack Edwards, and scored into an empty net from close range.
Moments on, the visitors netted a second through Matyžonok once more, as the number 44 collected a through ball, and scored past Edwards’ bottom-left inside the penalty area.
At the start of the second-half, a third came for the Lithuanians through captain, Romualdas Jansonas, who powered a shot into the top corner of the net from inside the box.
The skipper scored his fifth of the tie in the 66th minute, where Jansonas slotted the ball past Edwards’ bottom-left inside the 18-yard area.
Not long later, substitute, Lewis Wynne, got an effort away inside the penalty area, but the chance was caught by Aliukonis.
The last action came just before the end, as Edwards made a good stop from close distance to deny Martynas Šetkus.
It will now be back to development league action for the young Saints to try and get in the Youth League again next season.
The final whistle blows at Park Hall Stadium, as The New Saints exit the UEFA Youth League.
The New Saints 0-4 (2-7) FK Žalgiris#UYL pic.twitter.com/a0Am9XnaFa
— The New Saints Academy (@TNSAcademy) October 1, 2024
