Stephen Kenny guides St Pat's to impressive first leg win over Sabah
Eight years on from his Dundalk side’s progress in a downpour to the Europa League group stages against BATE Borisov, the heavens opened up once again for another famous win
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 1-0 SABAH
Stephen Kenny loves a wet European night in Tallaght.
Eight years on from his Dundalk side’s progress in a downpour to the Europa League group stages against BATE Borisov, the heavens opened up once again for another famous win.
This time it was Sabah who were undone by another Kenny Euro masterclass, as his St Patrick’s Athletic recorded an impressive first-leg win over the wealthy Azeri side.
It should have been more than just a 1-0 win against a side littered with international footballers from Azerbaijan, Jamaica, Morocco and Slovakia.
Pat’s goal came from the toe of Romal Palmer, whose brilliant anticipation and movement got him onto the end of a wonderful Jake Mulraney cross.
While the visitors had to play most of the second-half with 10 men, following the dismissal of former Croatia Under-21 international Ivan Lepinjica, they were second-best prior to that.
Pat’s survived a nervy opening 15 minutes to dominate the opening period - and they pressed hard for a bigger cushion to take with them to Azerbaijan next week.
They deserved more than just a one-goal lead and hopefully their failure to add to that won’t cost them in the second-leg.
Their attacking pressure carved out several opportunities, with 16-year-old substitute Mason Melia going the closest to doubling the lead with a header that smashed off the foot of the post.
Moments later, Melia saw another header hacked off the line by some desperate Jon Irazabal defending.
Joe Redmond’s attacking threat in the opposition penalty area came to the fore last night and no doubt he will fancy himself from set-pieces again next week.
Chris Forrester revelled once again on the European stage, while Mulraney produced several world-class deliveries and Palmer dazzled in possession.
Jamie Lennon came up with some crucial interventions and did the grunt work that allowed his more technically gifted teammates to do their stuff.
But there isn’t a much better sight in Irish football right now than Mulraney whipping in a cross.
It’s almost Beckham-esque, the way he whips the ball with that deadly left boot. It’s clearly been a project of Kenny’s to get the ball to the former Hearts man as quickly and often as possible.
That’s what happened when Lennon won the ball in midfield in the 35th minute. Instead of attacking the space in front of him, he moved the ball wide right to Mulraney.
He cut back onto his left and sent in a peach of a delivery.
Anticipating the near post cross, Palmer raced in ahead of Morocco international defender Soufiane Chakla and stabbed the ball between Imanov and the near post.
Pat’s had weathered an early storm - with goalkeeper Joseph Anang denying Irazabal at his near post inside the second minute - to take control of the game.
They clocked up a total of 12 corners to Sabah’s two, and carved out chances from many of them.
Mulraney and Forrester were both denied by blocks, and Mulraney again by a Yusif Imanov tip-over, while Redmond wasn’t far off target with a header.
The half-time break couldn’t halt Pat’s momentum and they were a man to the good when Lepinjica was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Palmer.
Mulraney forced a smart save from the free-kick that followed, while moments later Forrester, after a super turn, fizzed just wide with a left-foot effort from 20 yards.
Chances fell to Mulraney and Forrester inside the area, before Melia’s header crashed off the foot of the right-hand post and a second effort was cleared off the line.
Sub Kian Leavy’s 83rd minute shot was deflected wide, Redmond headed a Brandon Kavanagh free-kick over from five yards and then, in injury-time, saw another header well saved.
It’s a one-goal lead, it should have been more, but Pat’s head to Azerbaijan with next week’s hosts well and truly rattled.
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