The New Saints 0-1 Djurgården: match report

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/1862176256587915614

Yellow cards: Redmond (78)
Substitutions: Wilson for Baker (69), Holden for Clark (69), Cieslewicz for J. Williams (83), Smith for D. Williams (83), Bradley for Redmond (90)

Match report by Stewart Bloor
Lead image: Sam Eaden/FAW

Craig Harrison made two changes from the side that started against Penybont FC in last weekend’s JD Cymru Premier victory at Park Hall, for the game against Djurgården. 

Although neither was seriously tested, both goalkeepers were called into action in the opening exchanges. 

Tokmac Nguen came close to breaking the deadlock in the 14^th minute, when his shot from the left was deflected behind for a corner. 

Three minutes on, it was a great block inside the penalty area from Ash Baker, that again denied the Kenya-born winger. 

As we passed the midway point of the first period, an attack from the home side ended with The New Saints’ right-back blasting the ball high and wide. 

Danny Redmond then went for goal but his strike was also off-target. 

Into the final ten minutes of the first-half and Nguen could have done better, when he struck straight at Connor Roberts. 

The Swedes took the lead four minutes before the break though, when Tobias Gulliksen beat Roberts from close-range, following good play down the Djurgården right.

As Philip Farrugia blew for the break, the goal was all that separated the sides. 

Although the visitors enjoyed the bulk of the possession as the second-half got underway, as we entered the final third of the encounter Craig Harrison’s side were still very much in the game. 

The head coach made his first change in the 69^th minute, when Adam Wilson replaced Ash Baker and Rory Holden came on for Ben Clark. 

Just into the final ten minutes, a burst of pace from Gustav Wikheim down the right came to nothing, when Josh Daniels did well to break down the attack in the penalty area. 

With four minutes remaining, Josh Pask met Adrian Cieslewicz’s ball in from the left, only for his header to go harmlessly wide. 

Then the ex-Coventry City defender was in action at the other end with a crucial block, as Deniz Hümmet had only Roberts to beat. 

Moments later, the Turkey U-21 international went close again, this time blasting over from close-range.

Although The New Saints ended the game the stronger, ultimately it was the Allsvenskan side that edged the encounter.