The New Saints 1-0 Flora Tallinn AET (Flora Tallinn win 4-2 on penalties): match report

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/2082871633727926725?s=20

Goals: B. Wilson (90+1)
Yellow cards: J. Williams (16), Holden (65), D. Williams (86), Redmond (97), Simeu (102), Davies (120+1)
Substitutions: Brobbel for Holden (65), Jefferies for Smith (65), Clark for Farrell (81), B. Wilson for J. Williams (81), Lock for Hughes (87), Nolan for Redmond (106)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Craig Thomas/FAW

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Craig Thomas/FAW

The New Saints suffered UEFA Conference League heartbreak as they were beaten on penalties by Flora Tallinn.

It looked for a long time like the Saints would be heading out in normal time, but substitute Ben Wilson scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to keep his side’s hopes alive.

In the end, though, it was the Estonian visitors who proved the more clinical from the penalty spot, coming away with a 4-2 shootout victory to book their place in the third qualifying round.

The New Saints made a bright start at Park Hall and had a couple of chances to take the lead inside the opening 10 minutes.

First, Rhys Hughes drilled wide of the post after cutting inside from the left, before Jack Bodenham failed to hit the target with a headed effort following a corner.

There was a scare for the Saints at the other end in the 15th minute when Sander Alamaa broke forward at pace.

Nathan Shepperd was alert to his eventual effort, however, getting down well to his right to deny the Estonian striker.

With 22 minutes on the clock, Craig Harrison’s side had another inviting chance, but Danny Davies failed to hit the target with a volleyed effort after the ball fell kindly at his feet.

Seven minutes before the break, the Novira Cymru Premier side were aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty when the ball appeared to strike the arm of Vladislav Kreida. Referee Vitālijs Spasjoņņikovs was unconvinced, though, and waved play on.

The Saints were on top throughout the opening period, but the all-important first goal continued to prove elusive.

Following the restart, it was very much the same, with the home side doing all of the attacking.

Visiting goalkeeper Evert Grünvald was out quickly to make an important save at the feet of Jordan Williams in the 47th minute, before Leo Smith had a volley deflected wide moments later.

Harrison made a number of changes as the second half progressed, continuing to push for the opener, one of which was Ryan Brobbel, who was introduced for Rory Holden in the 65th minute.

Eight minutes later, the former Northern Ireland U21 international was causing problems down the right flank, but after a good piece of footwork, his inviting cross was flashed agonisingly across the face of goal.

Davies had another opportunity with 83 minutes on the clock, but after cutting inside from the right, he sent a left-footed effort wide of the post.

With time running out and all hope appearing lost, the ball fell kindly for Wilson on the edge of the penalty area, and the former Airdrie man drilled a powerful effort beyond the reach of Grünvald and into the bottom corner to level the aggregate score and force extra-time.

After two tense periods of extra-time, there was still nothing between the two sides, meaning the winner of the tie was determined by a penalty shoot-out.

Taaniel Usta dispatched the decisive penalty to seal a 4-2 win in the shootout and set up a meeting with Andorran champions Inter Club d’Escaldes in the third qualifying round.

The New Saints are back in action this coming Sunday (August 2nd) when they begin their Novira Cymru Premier defence on the road against Penybont.

Kick-off at the DragonBet Stadium is scheduled for 2:30pm.