The New Saints 5-1 (10-1) FK Kauno Žalgiris: Saints smash sorry Žalgiris to progress
The New Saints 5-1 Kauno Žalgiris in the Europa Conference League at Park Hall on the 29th July 2021. Credit: Will Cheshire/YCPD
The New Saints crushed FK Kauno Žalgiris 10-1 over two legs to progress to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Anthony Limbrick’s side will now play Czech outfit Viktoria Plzeň in the next stage, hosting them at the Cardiff City stadium next Thursday in the first leg.
Their margin of victory is the highest recorded by a Welsh domestic club and third when including Cardiff City and Swansea City.
Danny Redmond opened the scoring early on in the first half in his return from injury. Goals from Declan McManus, Leo Smith, Louis Robles, and Danny Davies completed the scoring for the Saints. Michael Thuique got a consolation goal for the Lithuanians late on.
The difference in the two sides could be seen quite clearly as the balls that were played in the box from TNS caused FK Kauno Zalgiris a whole host of problems throughout the match and proved to be the key difference in the scoreline.
The Saints had their first chance ten minutes when Declan McManus had a shot from just outside the box that hit the crossbar with Jordan Williams having a shot on the follow-up that was offside.
Danny Redmond opened the scoring for the Oswestry based-side in the 13th minute when he had a shot from outside the box that beat Mikelionis to his left-hand side.
Several moments later TNS doubled their lead when a ball got played in the box to Louis Robles who scored past Mikelionis.
Not too long after the 13-time Cymru Premier champions scored a third when Danny Davies played a ball in the penalty area to Declan McManus with the forward heading it into the back of the net.
Just past the half-hour mark, Jordan Williams had an opportunity from just outside the 18-yard area that went over the crossbar.
On the stroke of half-time, Chris Marriott whipped in a ball from a free-kick that Ryan Astles got on the end of to have a header at goal which went over the goal.
At the start of the second forty-five Domantas Putrius had an attempt from 25-yards out which blasted wide of the TNS net.
A fourth goal for the current Welsh Cup holders came as a ball got crossed into Smith who headed the ball past the Lithuanian net for his sixth goal in his sixth successive European match.
The fifth came soon after from a Smith free-kick that found Danny Davies at the back post who headed home to make the score at the time 10-0 on aggregate.
As the tie was coming to an end Rokas Garastas’ side got a consolation goal when Michael Thuique ran in and scored past Paul Harrison.
The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Chris Marriott (Ben Clark 77’), Keston Davies, Ryan Astles, Jon Routledge (Lewis Rees 75’), Declan McManus (Dean Ebbe 67’), Danny Redmond (Beau Cornish 67’), Jordan Williams, Louis Robles, Leo Smith, Danny Davies (Adrian Cieslewicz 75’).
Goals: Danny Redmond 13’, Louis Robles 20, Declan McManus 25’, Leo Smith 69, Danny Davies 74’.
Yellow cards: Keston Davies 27’.
FK Kauno Zalgiris: Deividas Mikelionis, Martynas Dapkus (Domantas Putrius 46’), Philip Otele, Egidijus Vaitkunas (Yuma Suwa 46’), Michael Thuique, Emmanuel David (Opeyemi Abdulgafar 69’), Rimvydas Sadauskas, Deividas Sesplaukis, Linas Pilibaitis, Steven Thicot, Shoko.
Goals: Michael Thuique 85’.
