Shropshire Star

The New Saints continue Champions League adventure with extra-time win

The New Saints kept their flag flying in the UEFA Champions League after fighting back to clinch a thrilling 3-1 extra time win over FC Europa in the second leg at Estadio Algarve, writes John Bridgwater.

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Scott Quigley was instrumental in the win.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg at Park Hall, the Saints turned it around in an incident packed tie in Portugal against the men from Gibraltar to progress 4-3 on aggregate.

Scott Quigley scored twice to add to his goal from the first leg ,while Europa's lack of discipline saw them have two players sent off on the hour mark.

TNS manager Scott Ruscoe praised his side's belief as they set up a trip to Croatian champions HNK Rijeka in the second qualifying round next Tuesday.

"Every single player played their part," he said. "A lot of people had written us off, but we kept believing in what we do,

"We changed our shape, and I thought we were brilliant in the first half. We stifled them, had good chances, and to go in a half time 2-0 up was a fantastic effort.

"We were a little disrupted in the second half when they went down to nine men, but I always felt we would score again."

Two strikes in four minutes late in the first half through a Moya Tornay own goal and Scott Quigley had TNS 2-0 up on the night in Portugal.

The Gilbraltarians were level on aggregate soon after the break through a controversial Liam Walker penalty, but were reduced to nine men just inside the hour following a double sending off as striker Kike Gomez and midfielder Alex Quillo both saw red.

Gomez was red-carded for a stamp on Ryan Pryce on 58 minutes and midfielder Quillo was sent off for his second booking in a minute for comments made to Belgian referee Lawrence Visser.

Although Europa sat deep and took the tie into extra time, the Saints finally found a way through with Quigley netting his second of the game with a terrific low shot.

It was also a big night for TNS skipper and goalkeeper Paul Harrison who set a new Welsh Premier record for appearances in Europe when donning the gloves for a 32nd time.

The Saints made one tactical change, with centre forward Wes Fletcher coming in to join Quigley up front, with wingman Adrian Cieslewicz dropping down to the bench.

And they were soon on the front foot, with Quigley sounding a warning when finding the net only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

But the Welsh Premier champions were not the denied on 37 minutes when Europa defender Moya Tornay glanced the ball into his own net from Ryan Brobbel free kick from the left.

Just four minutes later, a second goal arrived when, after neat interplay on the right, the ball was slipped to Aeron Edwards who broke into the box before squaring for Quigley to slot home.

Europa level matters on aggregate in controversial fashion when Liam Walker smashed home a 53rd minute penalty awarded after Aeron Edwards was ruled to have handled following a corner.

Down to nine men, Europa were scrapping for their lives, but TNS were not to be denied as Quigley fired a low strike into the net in extra time to seal victory.