The New Saints bowed out of the UEFA Europa Conference League after losing 3-2 to Swift Hesperange in the second leg of their second qualifying round tie.
It was all to play for in Luxembourg following a 1-1 draw at Park Hall last week and despite Declan McManus – finally fit enough to start again after recent injury troubles – scoring two penalties, Craig Harrison’s side were unable to keep out their hosts.
Early goals have been TNS’ undoing in Europe this summer and they conceded after just two minutes, Hesperange captain Dominik Stolz capitalising on a defensive error to slide the ball home.
There was an instant response from the JD Cymru Premier champions though as both Ryan Brobbel and last week’s first leg goalscorer Rory Holden hit the woodwork in the opening 10 minutes.
Holden was again involved as TNS won a penalty in the 21st minute, with the former Port Vale man fouled in the box by Simão Martins. McManus coolly converted to level the tie at 2-2 on aggregate.
Rachid Alioui and Charles Morren both shot wide from the edge of the box as Hesperange pushed to retake the lead, before Alioui found the second goal just after the hour mark. The former Moroccan international finished into an empty net after TNS failed to deal with a free-kick.
The hosts’ lead was doubled just four minutes later from a similar set-piece situation when Martins was allowed to fire home after a Hesperange corner could not be properly cleared by Harrison’s men.
With 71 minutes on the clock, Holden was brought down in the box for the second time and McManus scored again from 12 yards to offer TNS a route back into the tie.
The visitors desperately searched for an equaliser in the closing stages, with McManus firing an effort wide and Danny Davies seeing a shot saved by Hesperange goalkeeper Geordan Dupire, but it was not to be as the hosts progressed to the third qualifying round.
TNS now begin the domestic campaign with their Nathaniel MG Cup second round tie against Connah’s Quay Nomads on Saturday afternoon before kicking off their JD Cymru Premier title defence against the same opposition six days later.
