Don’t rule us out just yet, says TNS chief

TNS assistant manager Scott Ruscoe insists his side are still in with a chance of Champions League qualifying despite a 2-0 defeat at Croatian champions HNK Rijeka.

Goals in each half from Josip Misic and Florentin Matei settled the second qualifying round first leg tie and means the Welsh champions face a difficult task at Park Hall next Tuesday (7pm).

“We’re still in the tie – it’s only two goals,” Ruscoe said. “We’re at home, it’s on the 3G which they might not like, I don’t know.

“A lot of teams come to our place and don’t like it. I don’t know if that’s an advantage, but it’s only 2-0. It’s not four or five and the tie’s is not dead.

“We’ll go again and we’ll work on what needs to put right ahead of Tuesday.”

The game saw TNS come under immediate pressure from the home side, who looked dangerous right from the outset.

They took the lead four minutes in when, after being awarded a free-kick in a central position just outside the box, Misic floated the ball over the wall and beyond helpless goalkeeper Paul Harrison, who was rooted to the spot.

Having got that early goal, the home siege continued and, but for Harrison, they might well have been out of sight inside the opening 10 minutes.

As they poured forward, Alexander Gorgon picked the ball up and, after breezing past the attempted challenge of Connell Rawlinson as he ran towards the box, unleashed a shot that Harrison needed to see behind for a corner.

Another chance arrived moments later, when Marko Vesovic cut in off the right flank on his left foot, but his shot was saved down low by Harrison.

However, after that early onslaught, the Welsh Premier side settled down and were well disciplined as they prevented any further Rijeka goals in the first half.

But the second goal did finally arrive on 67 minutes – to the relief of the home side – when sub Matei converted from close range after Stefan Ristovski had sent the ball across the box into his path.

Saints did not offer too much going forward, although striker Scott Quigley – the hero of the last round against Europa FC – did have a sight of goal, but was unable to find a killer touch to beat Simon Sluga who was equal to the danger.

He then had an even better chance to grab a crucial away goal five minutes from time, but failed to hit the target, leaving TNS a two-goal deficit to make up.