The New Saints came from behind to earn a draw in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League tie at home to FC Swift Hesper.
It was a fast and frantic start from both teams at Park Hall as The New Saints and Swift Hesperange traded early chances. Delved Sinani broke through the lines of The New Saints’ midfield in the 2nd minute and tested Saints’ keeper Connor Roberts from 25 yards out before TNS midfielder Josh Daniels saw his left-footed effort deflect just wide two minutes later.
The visitors from Luxembourg continued to play at a frantic pace, pressuring the hosts high up the pitch from the get-go, but this did leave them somewhat exposed at the back. Despite this, it was the visitors who took the lead after TNS failed to clear their lines following a Hesperange free kick with Paul Ayongo’s low cross volleyed home by Simao Carvalho Martins.
TNS seemed to be missing their star striker Declan McManus, who was on the bench after picking up a knock in the Saints’ previous tie vs BK Hacken. The host’s lack of firepower looked even more costly as Daniels missed a golden opportunity to level the match from six yards out when he was picked out by Ryan Brobbel’s inch perfect low cross in the 34th minute.
The second half started with a slower tempo, but was soon brought back to life as Hesperange talisman Dominik Stolz turned Saints defender Josh Pask inside out in the 56th minute with a wonderful piece of trickery to earn his side a penalty. Stolz, who had converted one of his two penalties he had taken in Hesperange’s previous tie versus Slovan Bratislava, stepped up and drilled his penalty low and hard to Roberts’ right, but the Saints shot stopper guessed correctly and produced a wonderful save to keep the hosts in it.
The hosts, inspired by their keeper’s heroics, unveiled their secret weapon in the form of last season’s Cymru Premier League top goalscorer Declan McManus. Unfortunately for the Saints, the Scotsman failed to make an instant impact and the visitors continued to dominate. Hesperange were desperately unlucky not to double their lead when Stolz hit the post from inside the six yard box before Rachid Alioui was denied by Ryan Astles’ goal-line clearance on the follow-up. The visitors continued to push and winger Sinani saw another effort denied by Roberts at the near-post.
It was looking to be another miserable European night for the Welsh champions. Just as some may have begun to lose hope, Saints’ new signing Rory Holden controlled a Hesperange clearance from a corner with a wonderful first touch and from 30 yards out, set himself up for a sweet strike that French keeper Geordan Dupire couldn’t keep out despite getting a glove to.
The Saints were right back in the game as both sides looked for a winner, the hosts once again riding their luck as Blankson Anoff hit the inside of Roberts’ post with a sweet left footed strike from just outside the box in the 81st minute. In the 89th minute came the most contentious call of the match, with McManus, who had grown into the game, seemingly clean through before being taken out by Hesperange defender and last man back, Jaime, who received a yellow card for the foul.
During injury time, the visitors pushed for a winner, but never seriously threatened and the game ended in a stalemate, with both teams being able to take confidence from the result ahead of the second leg in Luxembourg on August 1st.
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