Sabah FK 1-0 The New Saints: match report

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/2074506139757384070?s=20

Yellow cards: J. Williams (45+2), D. Williams (83)
Substitutions: Brobbel for Clark (68), Davies for J. Williams (89)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Mahammad Mammadov/FAW 

The New Saints put in a battling display, but two second-half goals helped Sabah secure a 2-0 victory in tonight’s UEFA Champions League first qualifying round fixture.

Veljko Simić opened the scoring from a corner in the 66th minute, before substitute Kaheem Parris increased the hosts’ advantage after a well-worked move six minutes from time.

Although it was defeat on the night, it’s only half-time in the tie, and Craig Harrison’s side will be looking to use their strong home record to their advantage in the second leg at Park Hall next Tuesday.

It was an evenly-matched start in Baku and apart from a couple of Sabah corners, neither set of defences was troubled inside the opening 15 minutes.

Although the hosts were enjoying the majority of the possession, The New Saints maintained their defensive shape well, frustrating their hosts from Azerbaijan in the process.

Craig Harrison’s side were enjoying the occasional foray forward too, with Leo Smith doing well in the 22nd minute to win his side their first corner of the night.

In the 27th minute, the home side had a golden chance to make the breakthrough, but after some good footwork on the left from Aleksey Isaev, Joy-Lance Mickels sent a headed effort over the crossbar from point-blank range.

From that point, the home side began to take control, and in the 31st minute, they had appeals for a penalty turned down when the ball struck Leo Smith inside the area.

There was another let-off for the visitors five minutes before the break, as a powerful header from Akim Zedadka went begging from inside the six-yard box.

Before the half-time whistle blew though, there was still time for the Novira Cymru Premier champions to cause problems at the other end, and after winning a corner on the right, an effort from Ben Clark was eventually blocked on its way through the penalty area.

Sabah continued to control possession following the restart, but once again, the Saints were doing well to frustrate both their Azerbaijani hosts and the home crowd.

Aaron Malouda was involved once again in the 63rd minute, this time cutting inside from the right, but his resulting strike drifted harmlessly wide for a goal kick.

It was a superb defensive effort from Harrison’s side to reach that point in the game with the score still level, but in the 66th minute, the home side’s pressure finally told.

Veljko Simić connected with Tymoteusz Puchacz’s corner and diverted a header past Shepperd from the edge of the six-yard box to put the hosts in front at the Alinja Stadium.

The Saints’ goalkeeper was kept busy as time progressed, first preventing Simić from doubling his tally in the 75th minute, before denying the Serbian again 60 seconds later.

Sabah weren’t to be deterred, however, and with six minutes of the 90 remaining, did eventually increase their advantage in the tie.

Substitute Kaheem Parris raced onto the end of a defence-splitting ball from Simić, before lifting the ball over the outrushing Shepperd to seal a 2-0 first-leg victory for his side.

The teams meet again at Park Hall next Tuesday (July 14th), and the Saints will be looking to take advantage of their strong home record to overturn the deficit in front of their own supporters.