Match ends, Shkendija 5, The New Saints 0.
ShkendijaShkendija5The New SaintsThe New Saints0
The New Saints face an almost impossible task in the first qualifying round of the Champions League after being outclassed by Shkendija in the first leg.
The Welsh champions trailed 2-0 at the interval in Macedonia through goals from Izair Emini and Besart Ibraimi.
The impressive Ibraimi scored three further goals in the second half to cap off a night to forget for Saints.
Saints host Shkendija in the second leg at Park Hall in Oswestry on 17 July.
Summer recruits Ben Carbango and Danny Redmond were handed their debuts as Saints embarked on their 12th Champions League campaign.
Scott Ruscoe's side were facing opponents which had won the Macedonian championship by a margin of 35 points and in doing so had scored 101 goals.
Saints made a nervy start as Shkendija, playing their home game in the national stadium in Skopje rather than their home city of Tetovo, applied the early pressure.
It came as no surprise that the hosts went ahead on 14 minutes when a well worked move down the left flank was deflected into the path of Emini, who netted from close range.
Ibraimi's effort from outside the box doubled their lead seven minutes before the break.
Ryan Brobbel had Saints' best chance of the game in the opening minute of the second half with his effort deflected wide, but two further goals put Shkendija firmly in control of the game and the tie.
Ibraimi's low drive from 30 yards beat Paul Harrison to make it 3-0 before the Macedonian international completed his hat-trick with a stunning free-kick.
Harrison had no chance with Ibraimi's fourth five minutes later, with the striker beating Harrison with a curling shot from the edge of the box to complete a comprehensive win for Shkendija.
The winner of the tie face Torpedo Kutaisi from Georgia or FC Sheriff of Moldova in the second qualifying round, with ties to be played on 24-25 July and 31 July-1 August, while the losers will drop into the Europa League.
Line-ups
Shkendija
- 1Zahov
- 4Bejtulai
- 7IbraimiSubstituted forShefitiat 75'minutes
- 5Alimi
- 14Radeski
- 33Adili
- 16Murati
- 6Musliu
- 18da Fonseca Salazar JuniorBooked at 90mins
- 20EminiSubstituted forSelmaniat 83'minutes
- 27TaipiSubstituted forZejnulaiat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Wakili
- 9Selmani
- 11Shefiti
- 17Zejnulai
- 29Cheshmedzhiev
- 40Redjepi
- 77Todorovski
The New Saints
- 1Harrison
- 6RoutledgeBooked at 59mins
- 3Marriott
- 5Cabango
- 2SpenderSubstituted forLewisat 73'minutes
- 8Brobbel
- 17EbbeSubstituted forByrneat 64'minutes
- 4Holland
- 10RedmondSubstituted forEdwardsat 67'minutes
- 14Mullan
- 12Hudson
Substitutes
- 9Draper
- 11Cieslewicz
- 20Nembhard
- 21Byrne
- 22Lewis
- 23Edwards
- 25Roberts
- Referee:
- Timotheos Christofi
- Attendance:
- 2,700
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Shkendija 5, The New Saints 0.
Booking
Stenio Junior (Shkendija) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution
Substitution, Shkendija. Remzi Selmani replaces Izair Emini.
Substitution
Substitution, Shkendija. Arbin Zejnulai replaces Shqiprim Taipi.
Substitution
Substitution, Shkendija. Shefit Shefiti replaces Besart Ibraimi.
Substitution
Substitution, The New Saints. Kane Lewis replaces Simon Spender.
Substitution
Substitution, The New Saints. Aeron Edwards replaces Daniel Redmond.
Goal!
Goal! Shkendija 5, The New Saints 0. Besart Ibraimi (Shkendija) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, The New Saints. Kurtis Byrne replaces Dean Ebbe.
Goal!
Goal! Shkendija 4, The New Saints 0. Besart Ibraimi (Shkendija) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Booking
Jonathon Routledge (The New Saints) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Goal!
Goal! Shkendija 3, The New Saints 0. Besart Ibraimi (Shkendija) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal.
Second Half
Second Half begins Shkendija 2, The New Saints 0.
Half Time
First Half ends, Shkendija 2, The New Saints 0.
Goal!
Goal! Shkendija 2, The New Saints 0. Besart Ibraimi (Shkendija) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Goal!
Goal! Shkendija 1, The New Saints 0. Izair Emini (Shkendija) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal.
Kick Off
First Half begins.
Post update
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
