The New Saints (0) vs (2) Rijeka
The New Saints go into tonight’s second leg needing a Champions League miracle if they are to overturn HNK Rijeka’s first leg lead at Park Hall (7.00).
Classy Rijeka proved too strong for Saints in Croatia last week and travel with a two-goal advantage under their belts.
Goals either side of half-time from Josip Misic and Florin Matei leave the Croatian side on the cusp of the third qualifying round despite a valiant display from underdogs The New Saints.
That commanding first leg result leaves the odds of firmly stacked against Scott Ruscoe’s team tonight but another battling display would at least see the Saints bow out from Champions League qualifying with their heads held high.
The Saints would need to score three goals and shut-out Rijeka to win the tie in 90 minutes tonight, causing one of the biggest Welsh upsets in European history in the process.
Austrian heavyweights Red Bull Salzburg are the likely opponents in the third qualifying round after taking a 3-0 first leg lead over Maltese side Hibernians.
Rijeka got their defence of the Croatian league championship campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 win against Belupo on the weekend.
The New Saints will be streaming the game live via their official YouTube channel approximately 30 minutes before kick-off with Gary Newbon presenting. You can follow the link here.
Featured image courtesy of The New Saints FC.
