The New Saints exit Champions League to Rijeka

Leading 2-0 from the first leg, the Croatians turned on the style to suppress their hosts with a 5-1 victory in the return to seal a resounding 7-1 aggregate success.

The Saints were holding their own for much of the first half, but found themselves breached four minutes before the break through Florentin Matei.

That left the Welsh Premier champions facing an uphill battle in the second half, and there was no way back once sub Mario Gavranovic netted a second with a low angled strike.

Alexander Gorgon smashed home a super strike from just inside the box on 64 minutes, before Stefan Ristovski cut in from the right to fire a fourth moments later.

The Saints battled hard on an energy-sapping night, and gained some consolation when sub Adrian Cieslewicz curled in a terrific strike on 70 minutes from Jamie Mullan’s right-wing cross.

But Rijeka were not finished as Swiss striker Gavranovic slotted his second into an open net on 78 minutes to seal an emphatic victory.

The Croatians started with plenty of possession, looking comfortable on the ball, but an unchanged TNS kept good shape with solid defence.

The Oswestry men were keeping the lively Croatians at arm’s length, before growing into the game themselves.

They were looking dangerous from set pieces, and carved a golden chance midway through the first half when Steve Saunders was caught by a high foot in the box from a Ryan Brobbel corner.

An indirect free-kick was awarded 14 yards out but Scott Quigley’s low strike was blocked by a mass of Rijeka bodies.

TNS continued to work hard to combat the Croatian champions, but were prised open four minutes from half-time as Florentin Matei and Brazilian Heber linked with telling effect after pouncing on a loose ball.

Matei made no mistake as he coolly tucked the ball past keeper Paul Harrison, leaving the Saints having to score four times in the second half.

To their credit, TNS came out for the second period with purpose as the game opened out, with Aeron Edwards and Ryan Brobbel having long-range efforts. But any slim hope was effectively ended seven minutes after the break when Rijeka substitute Gavranovic drove home with his first touch.

Gorgon smashed home a a third from 18 yards, before Ristovski cut in from the right to add a fourth moments later.

Cieslewicz brought some home cheer when curling in a sumptuous strike on 70 minutes. Rijeka, however, were not finished, as Gavranovic slotted his second into an open net on 78 minutes to complete the scoring, while Matei also rattled the bar in injury time.

Team:

The New Saints: P Harrison, S Spender, S Saunders, C Rawlinson, R Pryce. J Routledge, A Edwards (T Holland 65), R Brobbel, J Mullan, W Fletcher (A Cieslewciz 56), S Quigley (G Draper 61). Subs not used: R Parry, B Hudson, A Wycherley, A Darlington.