History is on the line for The New Saints in their UEFA Europa League third qualifying round second leg against Petrocub tonight.
Craig Harrison’s side trail 1-0 from last week’s first leg in Moldova, but if they can overturn that they will become the first Welsh club to reach a league (formerly group) stage of European competition.
Donalio Douanla’s deflected strike which beat Connor Roberts in the 20th minute of last week’s contest is all that separates the two sides ahead of the crunch clash at Park Hall tonight.
The winners of the tie will face a UEFA Europa League play-off tie against the losers of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie between Qarabağ of Azerbaijan and Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad, but be assured of at least a place in the UEFA Conference League league stage.
Meanwhile, the losers will have one more opportunity to reach the UEFA Conference League league stage in a play-off in that competition against the losers of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie between Lithuania’s FK Panevėžys or Maccabi Tel-Aviv of Israel.
This is the first time that TNS have been one game away from advancing from European qualifying since 2010/11, when they lost 5-2 on aggregate to CSKA Sofia in the UEFA Europa League play-off round.
“This is what we’ve all worked for and where we all want to be,” Craig Harrison said. “I remember speaking to Mike [Harris] two years ago about coming back to the football club as manager and this is where Mike and the club wanted to be.
“We’re here now in a 90 minute game away from possibly getting into a group stage of European, football which is not only massive for TNS but massive for Welsh football.”
Visit The New Saints’ club website for details on how to watch tonight’s game live for free.
