Sabah FA 2-0 The New Saints, with the Azerbaijani champions carrying a two-goal lead to Wales after a composed first-leg display in Absheron.
Gomez Fernandez stuck with his 4-3-3, trusting Stas Pokatilov behind a back line featuring Steve Solvet and Tymoteusz Puchacz, while C. Harrison mirrored the shape with Jordan Williams and Ben Clark leading the line for The New Saints. The first half stayed cagey, punctuated by Joy-Lance Mickels picking up a yellow card in the 28th minute and a double flash of cautions at 45+2 when Akim Zedadka and Jordan Williams were booked. Sabah moved the ball with more purpose, but the visitors disrupted the tempo with fouls and compact defending to keep the match goalless at the interval.
The contest shifted in the 60th minute when Patrick Orphe M'Bina replaced Umarali Rahmonaliyev, a move that allowed Veljko Simic to drift centrally and pin The New Saints' centre-backs. The breakthrough followed in the 66th minute: Puchacz overlapped down the left and cut the ball back for Simic, who swept home.
Harrison introduced Ryan Brobbel in the 68th minute to re-energise his attack, yet Sabah continued to dictate territory. Fernandez doubled down on the flanks with a double change in the 77th minute, sending on Xander Severina for Aleksey Isayev and Kaheem Parris for Aaron Malouda. The fresh legs delivered in the 84th minute when Simic slipped a pass through for Parris to finish past Nathan Shepperd.
Discipline dominated the closing stages. Daniel Williams was booked in the 83rd minute before Solvet, already on a caution from the 62nd minute, collected a second yellow at 90+2 and was dismissed. Fernandez managed the finale by bringing on Aden McCarthy for Mickels at 90+4 as Sabah calmly saw out the clean sheet.
Match Data
- Final score: Sabah FA 2-0 The New Saints
- Goals: Veljko Simic 66' (assist Tymoteusz Puchacz); Kaheem Parris 84' (assist Veljko Simic)
- Key bookings: Joy-Lance Mickels 28'; Akim Zedadka 45+2'; Jordan Williams 45+2'; Steve Solvet 62' and 90+2' (second yellow, red); Daniel Williams 83'
- Substitutions: Patrick Orphe M'Bina for Umarali Rahmonaliyev 60'; Ryan Brobbel for Ben Clark 68'; Xander Severina for Aleksey Isayev 77'; Kaheem Parris for Aaron Malouda 77'; Danny Davies for Jordan Williams 89'; Aden McCarthy for Joy-Lance Mickels 90+4'
Sabah head to the second leg with a two-goal cushion but will be without the suspended Solvet, while Harrison must unearth a sharper attacking plan if the Welsh champions are to reverse the tie on home soil next week.
More from this first qualifying round, including Kauno Žalgiris vs Drita, Ararat-Armenia vs Riga, and Lincoln Red Imps FC vs Inter Club d'Escaldes.
