SAINTS SET UP SOFIA SHOWDOWN
St Patrick’s Athletic 0
NS Mura
0 AET, 1-1 on agg, Saints win 6-5 on pens
BY PAUL O’HEHIR Serge Atakayi before him, although
JOE REDMOND held his nerve while Tio Barry Cotter blazed over and Tom
Cipot bottled his in a dramatic shootout Grivosti was saved. as the Saints went marching on. But the way St Pat’s held their nerve
Penalties may be a lottery but St in 29C heat was just reward for their Pat’s more than deserved to progress attack-minded approach a week ago. to a third round away clash with St Pat’s were dominant during the Bulgarian aces CSKA Sofia next week. opening half and while they still lived
This dramatic win and the ticket dangerously on occasions, they also through also banks the Saints another carved out the best chance of that €300,000 to bring their European haul period. to €850,000 this summer. How Cotter failed to score is
Poor decision-making in the final anyone’s guess. Perhaps he just was third looked like it might come back to surprised to be one-on-one with the haunt St Pat’s who were too tentative goalkeeper when heading over from in attack when Mura were there for the five yards. By that stage, St Pat’s were taking. fortunate not to have conceded a
And they were especially hesitant penalty when Harry Brockbank clipped when the hosts were reduced to 10 men dangerman Mirlind Daku in the 22nd with 19 minutes of normal time minute. remaining. It was a big let off, not least for
At the opposite end, Mura never Brockbank himself who handed Mura threw in the towell and Joseph Anang their goal in Dublin when Daku seized had to make at least three magnificent upon his under-cooked backpass. saves to thwart the hosts. Daku was lucky not to walk after the
But St Pat’s were more than a match break for a blatant dive under a for the Slovenians over the two legs Brockbank tackle and St Pat’s and paid no heed to their group stage continued to make the hosts sweat. status of last year when they beat And their cause was boosted when Tottenham. Matic Marusko was sent off eight
St Pat’s boss Tim Clancy said: “To go minutes after his introduction for through is a big result for us but we raising his hands to Chris Forrester knew we could compete against them. after a harmless tussle.
“Penalties are a lottery but the lads But the Saints decision-making in the took great ones and we deserve our final third was poor throughout and place in the next round because of how continued that way for the remainder. we played in both legs. Not least in the first half of
“We spoke in the hotel before the extra-time when Serge Atakayi opted game about picking up the right areas to shoot rather than square to Eoin and making good decisions. Doyle who only had to tap in at the
“Maybe we shot when we could have back post. Anang’s saves in that period passed and maybe we passed when we were vital and the only reason St Pat’s could have shot but it’s a positive that were still alive and kicking before the we’re getting into those positions. shootout.
“Mura were better tonight than in But Redmond was the coolest man in our place. We’re delighted but we have the Slovenian melting pot as he pointed to refocus on the FAI Cup and the way forward for further adventure Waterford on Sunday.” in the weeks ahead.
New skipper Redmond, who only NS MURA: Obradovic; Beganovic, K Cipot, Morris, made his European debut last Pucko (Majic 119); Bobicanec, Lorbek week, was coolness (Klepac 63); Kous (Sroler 86),
Petkovic (T Cipot 63), personified as he
Shabanhaxaj (Marusku 63); stepped up to take
Doku. the decisive third
ST PAT’S: Anyang; spot kick in Cotter, Redmond, sudden death. Grivosti, Breslin;
So too were Brockbank, O’reilly Eoin Doyle (Mcclelland 115), (above), Lennon
Ronan (Timmermans 62);
Forrester Coughlan,
(Coughlan 85), E. Jay
Doyle, King (Atakayi Mcclelland,
69).
Thijs REFEREE: Urs Timmermans and Schnyder (Switzerland).