Latest news with #Shkendija
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints will play to the conditions
The New Saints lost 5-0 away to Shkendija in the Champions League qualifiers in 2018 [Getty Images] Champions League First Qualifying Round Second Leg: KF Shkendija v The New Saints Venue: National Arena Todor Proeski, Skopje Date: Tuesday, 15 July Kick-off: 18:00 BST Coverage: Listen live on BBC Radio Shropshire and on BBC Sport website and app. Advertisement The New Saints manager Craig Harrison says the heat will be a big factor when they play in North Macedonia against Shkendija in the Champions League qualifiers. Saints could not find a breakthrough in a tight first leg of the first qualifying round tie at Park Hall, which ended goalless. But Harrison is confident his side will create chances in Skopje and will draw on the experience of last season's draw away to Decic in Montenegro. "The heat will play a big factor so we can't go running around like madmen closing down and wasting energy," Harrison told BBC Radio Shropshire. "We know what it's like in Montenegro, which is in the same region of the world, so it will be similar conditions, really warm. Advertisement "So we'll have to manage the game accordingly and we'll have to be a little bit better in possession of the ball." Harrison said his side did "everything but score a goal" in what was an evenly-matched first leg. The Saints boss, in his second spell in charge of the 17-times Welsh champions, feels his side are capable of securing a win and progressing in the competition. "I do think that if we can keep a clean sheet out there, I think we'll go through," Harrison added. "We went out to Decic and were up against it there and we drew 1-1 in very, very similar surroundings. Advertisement "We'll have a game plan, we'll be well-organised and well-drilled out of possession. "But I do think we're very dangerous on the counter-attack and will create chances." The winners will face FCSB of Romania or Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes in the second qualifying round while the losing team drop into the Conference League.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Saints will play to the conditions
Champions League First Qualifying Round Second Leg: KF Shkendija v The New SaintsVenue: National Arena Todor Proeski, Skopje Date: Tuesday, 15 July Kick-off: 18:00 BSTCoverage: Listen live on BBC Radio Shropshire and on BBC Sport website and app. The New Saints manager Craig Harrison says the heat will be a big factor when they play in North Macedonia against Shkendija in the Champions League could not find a breakthrough in a tight first leg of the first qualifying round tie at Park Hall, which ended Harrison is confident his side will create chances in Skopje and will draw on the experience of last season's draw away to Decic in Montenegro."The heat will play a big factor so we can't go running around like madmen closing down and wasting energy," Harrison told BBC Radio Shropshire."We know what it's like in Montenegro, which is in the same region of the world, so it will be similar conditions, really warm."So we'll have to manage the game accordingly and we'll have to be a little bit better in possession of the ball." Harrison said his side did "everything but score a goal" in what was an evenly-matched first Saints boss, in his second spell in charge of the 17-times Welsh champions, feels his side are capable of securing a win and progressing in the competition."I do think that if we can keep a clean sheet out there, I think we'll go through," Harrison added."We went out to Decic and were up against it there and we drew 1-1 in very, very similar surroundings."We'll have a game plan, we'll be well-organised and well-drilled out of possession."But I do think we're very dangerous on the counter-attack and will create chances."The winners will face FCSB of Romania or Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes in the second qualifying round while the losing team drop into the Conference League.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Champions League star forced to wear shirt with HANDWRITTEN number after awkward blunder
A FOOTBALLER was forced to wear a jersey with his number scribbled on it in PEN during a Champions League clash. The bizarre scenes happened in a qualifier between The New Saints and Shkendija after Rory Holden was left covered in blood. 2 2 Midfielder Holden's original kit was soaked in claret during Tuesday night's first-leg tie at Park Hall. The incident prompted referee Rob Hennessy to order him off the pitch just before half-time. But in a moment of pure Sunday League chaos, TNS didn't have a proper backup kit with his name or number on it. So a staff member grabbed a ballpoint pen and scrawled '18' on the back of a white-and-green shirt to get him back on the pitch. Holden, who starred in last season's historic Europa Conference League run for TNS returned to action wearing the makeshift top. TV cameras caught the bizarre moment the number was inked on the sidelines. Thankfully the hand written number on the back of the shirt wasn't needed for long. The whistle blew for half-time moments later and he reappeared for the second half in a standard printed jersey. Holden was subbed off in the 80th minute with the match ending in a goalless draw. TNS made history last season as the first Welsh club to reach the group stage of a European competition. But this time, they made headlines for a very different reason. The return leg kicks off in Skopje next Tuesday (July 15), with a tie against either FCSB of Romania or Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes awaiting the winners.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Why TNS player had shirt number written in pen
Welsh champions The New Saints had to send a player into Tuesday's Champions League tie against Shkendija with his squad number written on the back of his shirt with a ballpoint inked their place in history last year when they made it to the group round of the Uefa Conference League - the first time a Welsh league side had reached that stage of a European the Saints made their mark in a different way in their first European tie of the new season as a blood spill left them scrambling for a spare shirt in their Champions League qualifier against first-half added time of the first qualifying round first leg fixture at Park Hall, TNS staff were seen writing the number 18 on the back of a replacement shirt for midfielder Rory Holden. Holden's original jersey was left covered in blood following an incident earlier in the first it has been confirmed referee Rob Hennessy informed the Saints that Holden - - whose goal helped the club to a Conference League group stage win over Astana last season - needed to leave the pitch to swap his the spare jersey having no name or number on the rear, club staff had to write Holden's number on the back of the shirt so he could return to the field of makeshift number was not needed for long, with the half-time whistle sounding soon after and Holden reappearing for the second half with the standard printed name and was withdrawn in the 80th minute of the Shkendija game, which ended return leg takes place in Skopje on Tuesday, 15 July (19:00 BST) with a second qualifying round tie against FCSB of Romania or Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes awaiting the winners. Craig Harrison's Saints are bidding to reach the proper rounds of the competition for the first time in their history having progressed to the group stages of the Conference League last after the first leg draw with North Macedonia-based Shkendija, TNS boss Harrison said: "It was a pretty even game possession-wise but I think we created the better opportunities. In the first half we had three or four opportunities that we should have done better with."In the second half we had a big chance and it's a good save by the goalkeeper to be fair, he's a big lad and he's got his whole frame out and kept it out."Maybe a 1-0 win probably would have been deserved on opportunities. I'm happy with the clean sheet but a little bit disappointed that we couldn't score a goal."
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
TNS 'did everything but score'
The New Saints boss Craig Harrison said his side did "everything but score a goal" in their 0-0 draw against Shkendija in the first leg of their Champions League sides had chances in what was an evenly matched contest at Park travel to North Macedonia for the second leg next week with the winners advancing to face FCSB of Romania or Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes in the second qualifying round."Overall, a little bit disappointed," Harrison told BBC Radio Shropshire after the game."Happy with a clean sheet but a little bit disappointed that we couldn't have scored a goal. "I don't think it was a vintage performance but I don't think we were poor on any stretch of the imagination."I thought we were decent, just that end product. We did everything but score a goal." Club record signing Ben Wilson had Saints' best opportunity in the second half at Park former Airdrie striker was through on goal but he was denied by keeper Baboucarr Gaye."We were a shade disappointed that we couldn't have gone in the lead," Harrison said."I think we deserved on chances alone - better chances - to take the lead."But it was a very close game, there was nothing in it from possession-wise and territory."Saints will have to wait to discover the extent of midfielder Leo Smith's knee was stretchered off the field after sustaining the injury during first half stoppage time."Seeing any player coming off the pitch on a stretcher is never a good sight to see," Harrison said."It's obviously a serious injury because Leo wouldn't just come off and then go out on a stretcher."He wouldn't just come off if he was OK. Let's hope he has a speedy recovery."The next 24-48 hours we'll get a true assessment of how he is and where we're at and then we'll go from there with Leo."
