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It was a successful week for Welsh clubs in Europe with three of the four teams winning their first legs in their opening European ties. 

The new season got off to a flying start on Tuesday as the Saints scored three goals in the first half to secure a 3-0 home victory against Montenegro champions FK Dečić. 

Then, there were a couple of shocks on Thursday as Connah’s Quay struck late in Slovenia to win 1-0 away from home against NK Bravo, before Caernarfon Town claimed an historic 2-0 triumph in their first ever game in Europe against Crusaders from Northern Ireland. 

Bala Town are the only ones trailing ahead of the second leg, after Colin Caton’s side lost 2-1 at Park Hall against Estonia’s Paide Linnameeskond. 

The results have had a major impact on Wales’ position in the UEFA rankings, and having lost one European spot for next season, the positive scorelines this summer could mean that the JD Cymru Premier could regain that fourth European spot. 

 

FK Dečić (0) v (3) The New Saints | Tuesday, 16 July – 20:00  

(Stadion Pod Goricom, Montenegro – Second Leg of Champions League First Qualifying Round 2024/25) 

The Saints go into the second leg in an excellent position following a comfortable 3-0 home win against Montenegro champions FK Dečić on Tuesday. 

After a standout season, winning the JD Cymru Premier’s Golden Boot award, it took less than four minutes for last year’s top scorer, Brad Young to head the Saints ahead from Josh Daniels’ brilliant cross. 

And with less than half an hour on the clock Young had doubled the advantage with another quality header, guiding in a cross from the left this time by last season’s main creator, Daniel Redmond. 

The third came for the Oswestry outfit after 38 minutes when Danny Davies poked the loose ball into the net following a corner kick from the right-hand side to grab his fourth goal in Europe. 

And that’s how it ended, which means that The New Saints are favourites to win the tie and progress to the second qualifying round of the Champions League for the first time since 2019, where they would face Ferencváros from Hungary. 

Perhaps more importantly, beating FK Dečić would ensure that the Saints reach the Europa Conference League play-off round. 

If TNS beat FK Dečić, then lose against Ferencváros, Craig Harrison’s side would drop into the third qualifying round of the Europa League, and even if they lost that tie, then there would be another chance to progress in the Europa Conference League play-off. 

Win the Europa Conference League play-off and the Saints would reach one of Europe’s main competitions for the first time ever. 

Since 1996 the New Saints have played 79 games in Europe winning 18 of those (23%), and in 40 European rounds the club has progressed on nine occasions (23%). 

Their best run came in the 2010/11 season – despite winning only one round that year (against Bohemians in the second qualifying round of the Champions League), before losing against Anderlecht, the Saints then had a play-off round to reach the Europa League group stages. 

But after losing 5-2 over two legs against CSKA Sofia, the Saints continue to dream of reaching the promise land of the group stages. 

The Saints certainly have more experience in Europe than their opponents this year, FK Dečić, who have only played two previous rounds in Europe, losing on both occasions. 

Last season, FK Dečić managed to win the Montenegrin championship for the first time in their history, and therefore the club from the town of Tuzi, which is close to the border with Albania, are competing in the Champions League for the first time ever. 

The second leg will be played in the capital city of Montenegro at Stadion Pod Goricom on Tuesday, 16 July, which is the national stadium where Wales will face Montenegro in the Nations League in September. 

The winners of this round will face Ferencváros (Hungary) in the second qualifying round, while the losers will fall to the Europa Conference League to face Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria) or Dinamo Batumi (Georgia). 

 

Crusaders (0) v (2) Caernarfon Town | Wednesday, 17 July – 19:45 

(Seaview, Belfast – Second Leg of Europa Conference League First Qualifying Round 2024/25) 

After qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history, the dream keeps getting sweeter for the Cofis following a special 2-0 victory against Crusaders from Northern Ireland. 

Nantporth Stadium was packed out on a historic night for the Canaries, and it only took four minutes before the crowd erupted when Morgan Owen drove a thunderous shot from outside the box into the roof of the net to score his first goal for the club, and a memorable first goal for Caernarfon in Europe. 

And after controlling the first half Caernarfon Town got what they deserved before the break as Zack Clarke took advantage of Darren Thomas’ incisive pass and slipped the ball past the on-rushing goalkeeper to send the Cofi Army into jubilation, with manager Richard Davies pinching himself on the touch-line. 

Caernarfon Town put in a professional display in the second half to hold on to their two goal advantage and the celebrations at the final whistle proved how much the result meant to the club and to the town as a whole. 

As for the opponents, Crusaders have plenty of European experience having played 55 matches in Europe since their first appearance in 1967, winning nine of those (16% win). 

The Belfast based club have faced big names all over Europe, including Valencia, Liverpool, Fulham, Wolves and Newport! 

The Crues have had some European success recently, winning their Europa Conference League first qualifying round in the last two seasons, beating Bruno’s Magpies (Gibraltar) and Haka (Finland). 

Crusaders finished fourth in the 2023/24 NIFL, and like Caernarfon Town the club had to win the play-offs to claim their place in Europe. 

The second leg will be played at Seaview, Belfast on Wednesday night, 17 July with the winners advancing to face Legia Warszawa (Poland) in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League. 

Legia Warszawa are the most successful club in all of Poland’s history, and their boisterous fanbase are well-known for their colossal passion. 

The club from the capital city of Poland have played over 250 games in Europe reaching the group stage on seven occasions since 2011, beating the likes of Aston Villa, Leicester City, Sporting Lisbon and Celtic along the way. 

Locking horns with a club of Legia Warszawa’s stature would be a tremendous achievement for Caernarfon Town, but another heroic performance in Belfast will be needed if they are to keep the dream alive. 

 

Paide Linnameeskond (2) v (1) Bala Town | Thursday, 11 July – 17:30  

(Pärnu Rannastaadion, Estonia – Second Leg of Europa Conference League First Qualifying Round 2024/25) 

After a one-year absence, Bala Town returned to Europe this year for their 10th European tie, but it was the same old story for the Lakesiders as they came out second best in a tight affair with Estonian outfit, Paide Linnameeskond. 

After a cagey first half at Park Hall, the visitors took the lead after 64 minutes when substitute Abdoulie Ceesay scored only seven minutes into his debut. 

And it looked like the contest was over when Predrag Medic struck the second for Paide after 90 minutes with a shot from distance sneaking under the body of Bala Town’s new goalkeeper, Joel Torrance. 

But Bala Town were given a lifeline in the dying seconds as Josh Ukek’s late spot kick after 95 minutes means that only one goal separates the two teams before the second leg. 

Bala Town have competed consistently in Europe for a decade, but the results have not been great with the club having played 17 games, won four, and won just one of their nine rounds to date (against Valletta in 2020). 

Like Connah’s Quay, the Lakesiders are facing a relatively new team as it has only been 20 years since the Paide Linnameeskond club was formed in central Estonia. 

Paide finished fourth in the 2023 season of the Meistriliiga to secure a place in Europe, and the team remains in the same position after 20 games in the current 2024 season. 

Of the four clubs that are challenging the Welsh teams this summer, Paide are the only ones that play throughout the summer and are currently in the middle of their domestic season. 

Paide had only won one of their previous 11 games in Europe, but surprisingly they have won two out of their six rounds. 

At the start of the 2022/23 season, they beat Dinamo Tbilisi from Georgia on penalties after winning 3-2 in the away leg, which was their only previous victory in 90 minutes. 

And in the following round, after two goalless matches against Ararat-Armenia, they won again on penalties to reach the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League, where they eventually lost against Anderlecht. 

The second leg will be played in Pärnu Rannastaadion on Thursday, 18 July with the winners advancing to face Stjarnan (Iceland) or Linfield (Northern Ireland) in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League. 

 

Connah’s Quay (1) v (0) NK Bravo | Thursday, 18 July – 18:30  

(Nantporth, Bangor – Second Leg of Europa Conference League First Qualifying Round 2024/25) 

Connah’s Quay caused the biggest upset of the week by defeating NK Bravo from Slovenia, who were clear favorites before Thursday’s first leg. 

It was goalless in Ljubljana for 83 minutes until substitute Elliott Dugan headed against the crossbar, and it was another substitute, Ben Maher who reacted quicker than anyone to plant a volley into the back of the net in his first game for his new club after leaving Caernarfon Town over the summer. 

The Nomads have been constant European contenders in recent years, after playing 21 games (winning five) and progressing on two occasions following victories against Stabaek in 2016/17 and Kilmarnock in 2019/20. 

NK Bravo from Ljubljana, which is the capital of Slovenia, are a relatively new club that formed in 2006, and after climbing the leagues in the last decade, they are making their appearance in Europe this year. 

Connah’s Quay manager Neil Gibson has fond memories of playing in Europe after scoring a crucial goal as Prestatyn Town beat Liepajas Metalurgs of Latvia in 2013. 

Having lost their previous six rounds in Europe, hopes are high for the Nomads now who will be targeting their first triumph over two legs since knocking out Kilmarnock in 2019. 

The second leg will be played at Nantporth, Bangor on Thursday, 18 July with the winners advancing to face HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (Bosnia) in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League. 

HŠK Zrinjski Mostar have a wealth of experience in Europe, and after coming close on several occasions they reached the group stage for the first time ever last season, competing in the same group as Aston Villa, AZ and Legia Warszawa in the Europa Conference League. 

 

Rhys Llwyd

Author Rhys Llwyd

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