Linfield 2-0 The New Saints: match report

Match Report

Yellow cards: Roberts (33), D. Davies (81), Smith (102)
Substitutions: Clark for Redmond (67), Cieslewicz for J. Williams (67), Pask for D. Davies (83), Daniels for Smith (106), Hudson for K. Davies (111)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

Jamie Mulgrew broke TNS hearts with a stoppage-time goal, as Linfield advanced to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

With just seconds of normal time to play in Belfast, The New Saints looked to be heading through, but the number 22’s spectacular goal from outside the box sent the tie to extra-time.

From there, the Blues went on to claim a narrow 2-1 aggregate win, and condemn the JD Cymru Premier champions to an early exit from the competition.

It was a scrappy opening half, with few clear-cut chances at either end, but it was the home side, Linfield, who had the better of the game.

Their best opening came in the 19th minute, when Connor Roberts was called into action to make a great save to deny Daniel Finlayson.

The visiting goalkeeper was certainly busier than his opposite counterpart, and he came to his side’s rescue with a couple of further stops just before the break.

Following the restart, Anthony Limbrick’s side grew into the game and began to enjoyed extended spells of possession.

Christopher Johns denied Declan McManus with a terrific stop in the 53rd minute, which was the closest the away side had come to extending their aggregate lead.

Chances continued to be few and far between, but the team from Park Hall did have some last-ditch defending to make in the 71st minute.

With nothing to lose, Linfield stepped it up a gear in the closing stages, and in the first of six additional minutes, Kirk Millar saw a header come back of the crossbar, as The Saints’ goal began to live a very charmed life.

However, just three minutes later, disaster struck, when Jamie Mulgrew slammed a spectacular goal into the top corner from just outside the box to bring the aggregate score level on the night.

With things all square at the end of 90 minutes, another 30 minutes of football followed in the Northern Irish capital.

Things went from bad to worse from there though, as the home side finally got their noses in front, just five minutes into the extra period. 

It was Ethan Devine who popped up to grab the vital goal, compounding the TNS misery further, as they fell behind on aggregate for the first time in the tie.

The Saints pushed hard to find an equalising goal right until the final whistle, with McManus, Cieslewicz and Brobbel all going close, but were unable to prevent an early Champions League exit. 

As a result, Anthony Limbrick’s side drop into the UEFA Europa Conference League, where they’ll take on Icelandic champions, Víkingur Reykjavík in the second qualifying round.