UEFA Europa League

Third qualifying round second leg

The New Saints 0 (0)

FC Petrocub 0 (1)

THE New Saints will face an all-or-nothing last-chance saloon tie next week to book their place in the Europa Conference League.

Craig Harrison’s men, down to 10 for much of the clash after Jordan Williams was sent off for a deliberate elbow on 40 minutes, failed to break down FC Petrocub who advanced thanks to their 1-0 win last week.

It means that TNS will drop into the Conference League play-off round in their bid to finally secure a European group stage place.

Saints had a sight of goal as early as minute one but the recalled Williams fired over from 20 yards out while the visitors also had a chance six minutes later.

Visiting full-back Ion Bors was given an instant yellow card for a terrible tackle on Jordan Marshall while two minutes later Dan Puscas was also booked for an equally terrible challenge on Josh Daniels.

Brad Young, largely out of sorts except for his first leg brace in round one, had a glorious chance to draw TNS level in the tie on 20 minutes, but failed to hit the target.

Saints were temporarily down to 10 men as Jack Bodenham needed treatment for an elbow to the face on 28 minutes and returned with a new, numberless shirt.

But it became a permanent man down as the home side were dealt a devastating blow five minutes before the break when Williams was sent off via a VAR review for throwing the elbow at Ion Jardan in an off-the-ball clash.

VAR ref Darren England wasted no time in calling Rob Jones to the monitor to see that Williams, inexplicably, slammed his elbow in the FC Petrocub man’s head.

Mr Jones was given the chance to instantly even up the sides in first-half stoppage time as Puscas repeated his foul on Daniels, in the same spot and the English Premier League ref wasted no time in showing a second yellow card.

Harrison rung the changes on the hour as he replaced Ben Clark and Rory Holden with Ashley Baker and Adrian Cieslewicz.

Harrison threw striker Declan McManus on to try to get that breakthrough the Saints desperately needed.

Saints huffed and puffed in the heavy rain but the Moldovans were able to keep them at bay and book their own European group spot.

TNS: Roberts, Daniels, Davies, Bodenham, Marshall (McManus 71), Clark (Baker 61), Redmond (Williams D), Smith, Holden (Cieslewicz 61), Williams J (Sent Off 40), Young

Subs: Ramsay, Edwards, Pask, Hudson, McGahey, Bradley, Canavan, Woollam