The New Saints on brink of exit as they pay price of Vikingur penalties
Oswestry, England 5 July 2022. UEFA Champions League First qualifying round match between The New Saints and Linfield.
The New Saints have a job to do at Park Hall Stadium next week after Vikingur Reykjavík were in command in a 2-0 win in Iceland.
The man of the match Kristall Máni Ingason scored a couple of well taken penalties in either half to give Víkingur a two-goal advantage.
Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s men were in control for the majority of the encounter as Anthony Limbrick’s team struggled to get a foothold in the game.
The result leaves the Cymru Premier champions to win by at least two goals next Tuesday to keep European hopes alive.
In just the second minute of the encounter, Saints new signing Josh Daniels hit an effort from just outside the 18-yard area as Ingvar Jónsson ran out and stopped from close range.
Eight later the home side had their first effort when Pablo Punyed struck a curled attempt from 20-yards away that went marginally over the TNS net.
Víkingur had another shot in the 16th minute as Kristall Ingason hit the ball from outside the box which Connor Roberts palmed away.
Ingason had a second effort four minutes later as he span around Anthony Limbrick’s defence and shot in the penalty area, only for Roberts to deny the attacker.
The Icelandic team were on the attack once more in the 23rd when Erlingur Agnarsson passed the ball across the box to Ingason who hit the ball from short proximity with Danny Davies able to make the block.
A penalty was given to Reykjavík in the 28th when Leo Smith brought down Sigurpálsson in the box. A minute later Ingason slotted past Roberts’ left to give Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s team a 1-0 lead.
In the 39th minute, Declan McManus had an optimistic shot from 35-yards away that went wide of Jónsson’s net.
The first chance in the second forty-five came in the 52nd when McManus had an effort in the box that was blocked.
A second penalty was given to Gunnlaugsson’s side in the 56th minute. Ingason went down after contact from Josh Pask as the referee thought there was enough to point to the spot, Ingason netted the penalty in the following minute past Roberts’ bottom-right.
The Icelandic champions had a double effort in the 70th minute as Pask was there to make a double block.
McManus had an attempt from 20-yards out in stoppage time that went off target.
Seconds before the end substitute Helgi Gudjonsson had a header that went wide which could prove crucial next Tuesday when the sides meet for the 2nd leg.
Víkingur Reykjavík: Ingvar Jónsson, Logi Tómasson, Peter Ekroth, Kyle McLagan, Erlingur Agnarsson, Pablo Punyed, Ari Sigurpálsson (Nikolaj Hnsen 77′), Birnir Ingason (Helgi Gudjonsson 77′), Júlíus Magnússon, Karl Gunnarsson, Kristall Ingason.
Goals: Kristall Ingason 29′ (P), 57′ (P).
Yellow card: Pablo Punyed 90+1′.
The New Saints: Josh Pask, Chris Marriott, Ryan Astles, Josh Daniels (Jake Canavan 86′), Declan McManus, Danny Redmond, Adrian Cieslewicz, Ben Clark (Jon Routledge 72′), Leo Smith (Ryan Brobbel 66′), Danny Davies (Jordan Williams 46′), Connor Roberts.
Yellow card: Declan McManus 62′.
