The New Saints suffered a 2-0 defeat in Baku in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie against Sabah FK on Tuesday evening.
Travelling to Azerbaijan for the first time in their history, TNS faced the challenge of coming up against the side who dethroned European group stage regulars Qarabag at the top of their nation’s top-flight last season.
Craig Harrison handed competitive debuts to summer signings Dynel Simeu and Rhys Hughes, while fellow new arrivals Isaac Godwin and Zach Nolan were named on the bench.
There were waves of Sabah pressure throughout the first half, with Joy-Lance Mickels and Zedadka Akim both failing to take headed opportunities from close range. Meanwhile, Saints captain Danny Redmond produced some last-ditch defending to keep the score goalless.
The hosts continued to dominate after the break, with Aaron Malouda proving a particular threat down both flanks, before TNS’ resistance was finally broken on 66 minutes when Veljko Simic met Tymoteusz Puchacz’s cross to head in the opener.
Simic could have scored at least once more were it not for strong goalkeeping from Nathan Shepperd, but the one-cap Serbian international turned provider for Sabah’s second goal with six minutes of the 90 remaining as he set up substitute Kaheem Parris.
Sabah finished the contest with 10 men as Steve Solvet was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time, which mattered little on the night but the Guadeloupe international will miss the second leg at Park Hall on Tuesday 14 July (KO 18:30).
“We knew it was going to be tough, they’re a very good team,” Craig Harrison reflected after the game. “We knew we would have large spells of the game without possession and we planned for that. We planned a shape, a mid to low block, and tried to control the game without the ball. Until the second their goal goes in, we’ve done that. Then they get the second, which was disappointing.
“We are as happy as we can be while getting beat. No one wants to get beat. Ideally we’d have only conceded one or kept a clean sheet, but as we stand, we are well and truly in the tie and we look forward to bringing Sabah back to Park Hall.”
