JD Cymru Premier sides The New Saints and Caernarfon Town were once again beaten in European action this week.
TNS exited the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night as a 2-1 home defeat to Ferencváros confirmed a 7-1 defeat on aggregate.
The first goal of the night at Park Hall arrived two minutes before half-time as Norwegian international Kristoffer Zachariassen chipped Connor Roberts, while Philippe Rommens added the Hungarian side’s seventh goal of the tie from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute.
There was to be a late consolation for the Saints as Josh Daniels turned the ball home at the back post in stoppage time.
Craig Harrison’s side will now move to the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round where they will meet reigning Moldovan champions Petrocub. The first leg is away from home next Tuesday.
Caernarfon Town’s maiden European adventure came to an end with a 5-0 defeat to Legia Warsaw at Nantporth on Thursday, condemning them to an 11-0 loss on aggregate in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round.
After a goalless first half, the Polish side took the lead on the night just 10 seconds after the break when former Leicester City midfielder Bartosz Kapustka fired past Stephen McMullan.
That goal put Legia in their stride and they scored twice more in the next eight minutes through captain Artur Jedrzejczyk – who played for Poland at the last FIFA World Cup – and Czech international Tomáš Pekhart.
Substitute Jean-Pierre Nsame was next to find the net as he dinked the ball over McMullan in the 72nd minute, before Sergio Barcia completed the scoring by heading home from a corner with seven minutes remaining. A second yellow card for Ryan Sears soon after meant that Caernarfon finished the game with 10 men.
So a chastening defeat for the Cofis in the end, but their debut European campaign will still live long in the memory – particularly the famous penalty shootout victory over Crusaders in Belfast.
