Conference League Report: St. Patrick’s Athletic 3 - 1 Vaduz

The Athletic will take a two goal advantage to the Alps next week for the second leg of their Conference League second qualifying round tie.

Jake Mulraney scored on the double, with their advantage cut by one, before Saints skipper Joe Redmond headed home his side’s third 13 minutes from time for a thoroughly deserved victory.

It certainly felt like the Stephen Kenny era is up and running at Richmond Park now after a dominant display. Some of Kenny’s best managerial moments have come in European action and his new Pat’s team put in a performance of great quality in this game against the Lichtenstein cup holders.

Mulraney grabbed the opener inside six minutes with a peach of a free kick before making it a brace in the 17^thminute with another well placed left foot effort.

The visiting Vaduz side grew increasingly frustrated during the game. Whether that was due to their own poor performance or their unhappiness with how referee Tom Owen was officiating the game is up for debate.

They weren’t happy with the number of frees awarded to the home team and Lorik Emini talked himself into the book (and he was withdrawn by his Swiss manager Marc Schneider at the break). Played under the new rules, only the captains are now allowed to talk to the referee.

With goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel the skipper, Nicolas Hasler was the designated outfield player to talk to the ref but all his teammates did an awful lot of arm waving in front of the referee when they felt decisions went against them.

Joseph Anang had very little to do in the first half – other than marshal the defence in front of him for the five corner kicks forced by the visitors – and to watch one deflected shot from Emini drop just by his right hand post.

The first goal was created by a superb run by recent signing Romal Palmer. He got pulled back but shrugged off a couple of challenges before Denis Simani hacked him down just outside the D. Mulraney whipped a left foot effort over the Vaduz wall and into the top left corner of the goal.

Palmer was involved again with the second, picking up a ball won by Jamie Lennon in the middle and feeding Mulraney. Two Vaduz defenders backed off allowing him to drill the ball by Buchel in goal to double the lead.

Lennon went close with a diving header off one of the five corners the home side had themselves in the first half. Liridon Berisha was well placed on 26 minutes to block Chris Forrester’s goal bound effort with the goalkeeper beaten.

The visitors did show more endeavour in the second period but Pat’s with their two goal lead were happy to sit off and then look to counter with Mulraney and teenage sensation Mason Melia willing runners in behind – on a night when Zac Elbouzedi was quite quiet.

However the Lichtenstein pressure paid off as they pulled a goal back in the 65^th minute after a mad scramble in the Saints box. Danilo Del Toro’s shot beat Anang by way of a deflection off Tom Grivosti.

Anang touched over brilliantly with 16 minutes remaining from sub Javier Navarro as the visitors went seeking an equaliser.

However, Denis Simani conceded a free kick for a foul on Melia wide left and when Forrester swung it dangerously in, Redmond was on hand to head it home as the visitors looked for an offside flag that never came.

The prize for winning this tie would bring the money banked by Pat’s up to a minimum of €900,000 – should they progress awaiting them in the third qualifying round is likely to be Azerbaijani side Sabah Baku who beat Maccabi Haifa 3-0 away from home in their first leg tie.

All eyes now on the Saints Alpine adventure next week.

St. Patrick's Athletic: Joseph Anang; Carl Sjöberg, Tom Grivosti, Joseph Redmond ©, Anthony Breslin; Christopher Forrester (Cian Kavanagh 87), Jamie Lennon, Jake Mulraney (Aaron Bolger 75); Romal Palmer (Jason McClelland 75); Zack Elbouzedi ((Kian Leavy 70), Mason Melia (Alex Nolan 87).
Subs not used: Shaun Hall, Daniel Rogers, Conor Keeley, Luke Turner, Ryan McLaughlin, Brandon Kavanagh, Ruairí Keating.
Booked: None.

FC Vaduz: Benjamin Buchel ©; Mischa Beeli, Liridon Berisha, Alessandro Kräuchi (Fabian Stöber 86), Denis Simani; Lorik Emini (Mischa Eberhard 46), Mats Hammerich, Nicolas Hasler (Jonathan De Donno 83); Fabrizio Cavegn (Javier Navarro 70), Danilo Del Toro, Dominik Schwizer.
Subs not used: Leon Schaffran, Simeon Weber, Yves Oehri, Sandro Wieser, Simon Luchinger, Federico Crescenti, Seifedin Chabbi.
Booked: Lorik Emini (16), Mischa Beeli (29), Alessandro Krauchi (55), Liridon Berisha (90+1).

Referee: Tom Owen (Wales). 
Attendance: 2,358
extratime.com Player of the Match: Jake Mulraney (St. Patrick’s Athletic)

Dundalk announce departure of Elliott https://t.co/fkEd170kp9pic.twitter.com/UtEFCsjpII

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