Connah’s Quay Nomads have work to do in their UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round tie against KA Akureyri after losing 2-0 in Thursday night’s first leg in Iceland.
Second-half goals from Hallgrímur Mar Steingrímsson and Daniel Hafsteinsson proved decisive for KA on their return to European football after a 20-year absence.
Neil Gibson handed starts to summer signings Declan Poole, Kai Edwards, Noah Edwards and Jordan Davies in a new-look Nomads starting XI.
A shaky start for the visitors saw goalkeeper Andy Firth called into action early on to deny Jakob Snaer Arnason, but the Nomads grew into the contest and had the better chances of the opening half hour.
Harry Franklin saw a volley blocked before Poole almost netted from the resulting corner, while Franklin had another opportunity go begging from close range. Meanwhile, KA goalkeeper Kristijan Jajalo needed to get down well to keep out Noah Edwards’ low drive.
The Nomads continued to pressure the KA defence with a menacing bursts forwards in the second half, but it was the hosts who took the lead on the hour mark when Steingrímsson found the top corner with a stunning left-footed volley.
Neil Gibson’s side were undeterred and Poole was creator in chief as they searched for an equaliser, but a sucker punch arrived in the 83rd minute when Hafsteinsson’s low shot nestled in the net.
Park Hall plays hosts to the second leg next Thursday, with the Nomads needing to mount an impressive comeback to progress.
The winner will face the winner of the tie between Dundalk FC from the Republic of Ireland and FCB Magpies of Gibraltar in the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round. In finished goalless in the first leg of that clash.
