Killie suffer Euro humiliation as Nomads proudly march on
● Welsh underdogs bite Rugby Park side as new boss Alessio endures a night to forget
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New Kilmarnock manager Angelo Alessio endured a nightmare home debut as the Rugby Park side crashed out of the Europa League qualifiers to Welsh underdogs Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Rugby Park was hosting its first European tie in 18 years and Kilmarnock were looking to build on their 2-1 first-leg lead and secure a tie against Partizan Belgrade in the second qualifying round, but instead it was Connah’s Quay who progressed following a sensational 2-0 win.
Second-half goals from Ryan Wignall and Callum Morris (a penalty) turned the tie on its head and ensured former Chelsea, Juventus and Italy assistant manager Alessio had a home debut to forget.
Both sides ended the match with ten men as Stuart Findlay was shown a straight red for conceding the penalty and then goalscorer Wignall was sent packing in the closing stages.
Kilmarnock had worked wonders to qualify for Europe under former boss and now Scotland manager Steve Clarke but this was a humiliating exit. For Connah’s Quay and their manager Andy Morrison this was a wonderful result and they proudly march on in the competition. Connah’s Quay should have taken an early lead when Michael Wilde’s low cross was dummied by Declan Poole and ran for the unmarked Morris but from eight yards out and with the goal at his mercy he somehow put his effort wide.
Kilmarnock then spurned chances to make the breakthrough as Rory Mckenzie surged forward and slid possession to Greg Taylor but the full-back scuffed his effort and goalkeeper Lewis Brass saved. The rebound came back to Mckenzie and he lashed in a shot but Brass was equal to the test as he pulled off a fine save to turn it wide.
Taylor was then presented with another chance when Chris Burke pirouetted on the edge of the box to create space and then burst into the penalty area and his cross came to the Scotland international but once again he could not force the ball past Brass.
Kilmarnock right-back Stephen O’donnell tested Brass twice in quick succession but the keeper stood controlled the game.”
It was job done for Aberdeen in the capital of Lapland but the tie proved far closer than it should have been. The Dons had 33 efforts on target in the first leg at Pittodrie before seeing a 2-0 lead cut in half with almost the final kick of the ball. Their advantage was wiped out completely at the start of the second leg when Tarik Kada held off Scott Mckenna before firing a shot that deflected in off Ash Taylor. Aberdeen set about peppering the home defence with a series of crosses, with Niall Mcginn and Ryan Hedges delivering several threatening balls. Ferguson came close in firm to keep out his efforts. Connah’s Quay wiped out Kilmarnock’s one-goal lead five minutes into the second half through a Wignall header.
Declan Poole swung in a dangerous cross from the right and Wignall glanced a header into the bottom corner beyond the despairing dive of Killie goalkeeper Jamie Macdonald.
Kilmarnock were still ahead on the away goals rule but now this European tie was on the knife edge. And Connah’s Quay were in the driving seat with 11 minutes to go as they grabbed their second of the night through a Morris penalty.
Sub Jamie Insall broke in behind the Killie defence and was hauled down inside the the 17th minute when he headed inches past the post from Shay Logan’s centre.
And the former Hamilton player soon won the spot-kick after tempting ex-kilmarnock defender Mahamadou Sissoko into making a reckless penaltybox challenge. Cosgrove dispatched the ball past former Inverness goalkeeper Antonio Reguero.
The striker missed two great chances either side of halftime, firstly sending a free header wide from eight yards following a Hedges cross, and then missing the target from four yards after getting above his marker to meet John Gallagher’s delivery.
Hedges and Taylor threatened from long range and 2 Kilmarnock’s Innes Cameron, centre, shows his frustration as the Ayrshire side crashed to defeat against Connah’s Quay Nomads and out of the Europa League qualifiers. box by a last-gasp Findlay challenge. The Killie defender was sent off by Hungarian referee Ferenc Karako and from 12-yards out Morris made no mistake.
Connah’squaywerereduced to ten men with five minutes remaining when Wignall received his marching orders after picking up a second booking following a crunching challenge on Alan Power. Mcginn caused panic for the hosts three times in quick succession, delivering dangerous crosses either side of a clever chip which the back-tracking Reguero tipped over.
The tie remained delicately poised, though, and Joe Lewis saved well from Youness Rahimi before Ferguson raced clear in the dying seconds and saw his deflected effort land over the line after having his initial effort saved.