Latest news with #Estonians'
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Chris Forrester with late winner as St Pat's Athletic edge nine-man Nõmme Kalju in Conference League
St Patrick's Athletic left it late to break down nine-man Nomme Kalju in their UEFA Conference League second qualifying round first leg at Richmond Park. Chris Forrester netted shortly after his introduction on 90 minutes as Conor Carty's shot was parried by goalkeeper Maksim Pavlov, and Forrester danced around him before finishing coolly. It looked set to be a night of frustration for the Saints as they were repelled despite Kalju losing Rommi Siht and Danyl Mashchenko to red cards within five second half minutes. The dam eventually in the final minute of normal time as the deeply cynical Estonians' defensive gameplan was finally undone. The home support were in fine voice long before kick off - though they had to in order to be heard above a PA soundtrack that could be heard from space - and maintained that despite their frustrations. And their patience - and that of goalkeeper Joe Anang - who also got to relax and watch a game of football - was rewarded when the erratic Pavlov failed to hold onto Carty's effort. The Russian goalkeeper had two hairy moments early on, first tipping a Jay McClelland cross over and almost fumbling Simon Power's centre into his own net. That was to be the majority of the first-half entertainment bar Pavlov tipping away a shot by sub Jake Mulraney, on after Zack Elbouzedi was cynically hacked down and had to depart with an arm injury. Mulraney again went close as Pavlov spilled a corner and the ball was cleared to the edge of the box, but it fell onto the roof of the net. The tide appeared to turn as Siht made a mess of a Saints breakaway and received a second yellow card for hacking down Barry Baggley. Power hit the side netting from 20 yards before Kalju's woes were compounded when Mashchenko cynically chopped down Mulraney as he ran in on goal. The visitors changed their initial plan of 11 men behind the ball to nine men behind the ball - or on the ground - but the Athletic's diligence eventually paid off as Forrester capitalised. They had further chances in injury time as subs Aidan Keena and Mulraney both drove narrowly wide but they will travel to Tallinn next Thursday with the most slender of leads. St. Patrick's Athletic: Joe Anang; Tom Grivosti, Jay McClelland, Ryan McLaughlin (Aidan Keena 71), Joseph Redmond; Barry Baggley, Zack Elbouzedi (Jake Mulraney 24), Kian Leavy (Brandon Kavanagh 78), Jamie Lennon (Christopher Forrester 78), Simon Power; Mason Melia (Conor Carty 78). Nomme Kalju : Maksim Pavlov; Danyil Mashchenko, Maksim Podholjuzin (Uku Kõrre 45), Modou Tambedou, Daniil Tarassenkov; Kristjan Kask, Oleksandr Musolitin (Aleksandr Nikolajev 46), Ivans Patrikejevs (Sander Alex Liit 78), Rommi Siht; Nikita Ivanov (Guilherme Henriques da Silva Carvalho 62), Mattias Männilaan.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Chris Forrester delivers last-gasp Conference win for St Pat's against nine-man Estonians
St Patrick's Athletic 1 Nomme Kalju 0 What had the potential to be one of the most frustrating nights in their European history finally delivered relief for St Patrick's Athletic. They left it late but eventually called on their bench to break down the resistance of their Estonian opponents and send Stephen Kenny's men off to Tallinn for the return leg next week with a narrow but precious win. They had just treated their supporters to an 11-goal haul in three games in a little over a week, but they needed a 90th-minute goal from club stalwart Chris Forrester to give them a slender advantage against Nomme Kalju ahead of what will be a physical and mental battle away from home. The Saints had been unable to make the most of their superiority, in terms of chances created or mere bodies on the field against nine-man opposition. The team from Tallinn were left to play for the last 20 minutes with nine men after a quickfire salvo of second yellows. But in the last minute of time Conor Carty powered his way through a tired Kalju defence and when his shot was blocked, fellow sub Forrester was free to prod the ball home, finally lifting the tension at Richmond Park in what was a rough battle at times. The European campaign to date had been blemish-free for the Dublin club with back-to-back wins and clean sheets against an ordinary team from Lithuania. This second-round tie had a similar backdrop but instead of a procession, it was rather a drag, as Pat's had spells of possession for long periods but did little with it. Pat's were forced into a reshuffle midway through that dull first half. Zac Elbouzedi ran half the length of the pitch and, as he bore down on goal was taken down by defender Danyl Mashchenko, who earned himself a booking. But Elbouzedi appeared to injure his arm as he fell and had to be substituted with Jake Mulraney called from the bench. His manager confirmed afterwards that Elbouzedi had in fact dislocated his shoulder and been removed to hospital. More woe for Pat's followed when Jason McClelland wasted the resulting free kick, sending it straight into the wall. After that, it was all bits and pieces from Pat's but no ability to stitch it all together as they struggled to break down the Estonians' defensive wall. A conservative Nomme side offered little, content to soak up the pressure and carried no threat at all on their rare forays into the Saints' half, with home keeper Joe Anang a spectator. At the other end, Pavlov kept out shots from Mulraney and Simon Power, while a run by Mason Melia in first-half injury time was halted by a thundering tackle from captain Maksim Podholjuzin. Pat's fans had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty on 51 minutes dismissed, but refereeing decisions then went their way. First, Rommi Siht was sent off for a second bookable offence on 64 minutes. Then just four minutes later the Estonians were down to nine men when Mashchenko was also dismissed for a second yellow card following a clumsy foul on Mulraney. With 20 minutes to play and a two-man deficit, it was desperate measures for the away side who had to withstand a constant barrage from Pat's. Melia should have scored on 71 minutes when set up by Grivosti but fired wide, then the 'keeper denied a strong effort from sub Aidan Keena. Kalju looked dead on their feet but resisted until a ball from Brandon Kavanagh found Carty and Forrester latched onto the loose ball for a crucial advantage to take on their travels. ST PAT'S: Anang; McLaughlin (Keena 69), Redmond, Grivosti, McClelland; Baggley, Lennon (Forrester 79); Elbouzedi (Mulraney 23) Leavy (Kavanagh 79), Power; Melia (Carty 79). NOMME KALJU: Pavlov; Tarassenkov, Mashchenko, Podholjuzin (Korre 45), Tambedou; Siht, Musolitin (Nikolayev 46), Patrikejevs (Liit 71); Kask; Ivanov (Guilherme 62), Mannilaan.
