1 v 1 
NS MuraVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 July 2022 | 7:45 pm | UEFA Conference League | 2022/23 |
Match Report
Saints stalemate against Slovenians
St. Patrick’s Athletic will be left to feel disappointed as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a physical NS Mura side in the Europa League second qualifying round first leg.
A well-taken Chris Forrester equaliser cancelled out Mirlind Daku’s first-half opener to leave the tie all square going into the second leg in Slovenia next week.
The hosts made two changes from last Friday’s 1-1 draw at home to Dundalk. Midfielder and new boy Thijs Timmermans replaced Ben McCormack and Barry Cotter who only joined this week from Shamrock Rovers was thrown straight into the firing line with a debut at the expense of Billy King.
The Saints came charging out of the blocks with debutant Cotter blazing a cutback from Mark Doyle over the ball from 6 yards out inside the opening minute. Pat’s continued to impress with Anto Breslin next to test Obradovic in the nets with a volley that was palmed away and eventually cleared.
Mura eventually weathered the storm after the opening 15 minutes and began to gradually grow into the game. The visitors were quick to showcase their physicality with a number of challenges throughout the game.
Mark Doyle was proving to be very effective and a menace to the Mura defence as he constantly tried to commit players and make things happen particularly in the first half.
The second half started how the first ended with the home side on top and they finally got their reward in the 60th minute when talisman Chris Forrester controlled the ball beautifully inside the box before volleying it in off the crossbar to level the game.
The Saints huffed and puffed in patches and went close again through a Brockbank header from a corner. Forrester was nearly at it again when he produced a Maradonna-esque run, weaving his way past four or five Mura players, however, his shot was just about held by the goalkeeper.
The game seemed to be petering out until Mark Doyle was given a straight red for an elbow on the Mura fullback Klemen Pucko. The match finished 1-1 and the Saints can travel to Slovenia with confidence knowing they have the ability to get a famous result in the return leg.
The attendance tonight was 2,696 which was a sell-out given it is all seated.
Timeline
Ground
| Richmond Park |
|---|
| Emmet Road, Kilmainham C ED, Dublin, Dublin 8, Leinster, D08 VK72, Ireland |
Full-time 1-1.
Mark Doyle has been sent off for an elbow on Mura left back Pucko.
Klepac replaces Bobicanec for the visitors. There will be three minutes of additional time.
Barry Cotter receives a standing ovation on his debut as he is replaced by Sam Curtis in the dying minutes.
The Mura captain Kous is replaced by Ouro. Forrester nearly produces a Maradonna '86 classic but the keeper smoothers his shot at the last second.
Eoin Doyle is replaced by Tunde Owolabi.
Mura win a corner but Anang clears. Kous breezes into the Pat's penalty area but his cross is cleared or another corner. Mura squander a big chance as a Shabanhaxhaj effort is saved right into the feet of Lorbek but he fires just wide. The Saints go down the other end and win a corner but it comes to nothing.
Lorbek is booked for a foul on Lennon
Amar Beganovic is booked for the visitors.
The first change of the night sees Jamie Lennon replace Timmermans for the hosts. Petkovic and Marusko are replaced by Shabanhaxhaj and Cipot for Mura
The Saints equalise and it is their main man Chris Forrester with the equaliser. He gets on the end of a cross to volley home and level the game. The goal had been coming from a good spell of possession for the hosts.
Another mix up at the back sees Mura get in behind but Grivosti does enough to put Daku off. Bobicanec is booked for a bad foul on Forrester.
Mark Doyle has a loose effort that is easily collected by the Mura keeper. The hosts win the first corner of the second half. Timmermann takes and it's Mark Doyle again who has a volley deflected for another corner. A third corner in succession for the hosts comes to nothing. A good spell of possession for the Saints. Brockbank is next to go close with a header that whistles just past the post.
The hosts get the second half started.
Half-time 1-0 NS Mura.
Mura win a corner however, it comes to nothing. Debutant Barry Cotter has impressed and produced some lovely pieces of skill in the opening half. Mark Doyle drives into the box looking to commit players and wins a corner. A Timmermans delivery is met by captain Redmond who heads just past the far post.
Pat's winning the ball in good areas but that final delivery cannot be finished off with a goal. Mark Doyle who has had a solid first half drives into the box before playing it across to Eoin Doyle, but again the keeper collects.
A terrific set piece free-kick from Bobicanec to the back post cannot be tapped home by an oncoming player. Pat's go down the other end and a lovely ball across the face of goal from Breslin is well held by the goalkeeper.
The away goal has quietened a raucous Richmond Park. The Saints have responded well to the goal with some half chances but nothing concrete.
Goal for the visitors. Mirlind Daku pounces onto a loose pass at the back and takes it around Anang before slotting home. The visitors only chance of the game so far.
Few chances since the opening 10. Mark Doyle does well again to pinch the ball from a Mura throw-in and race into the penalty area, although it comes to nothing. The referee clearly is reluctant to dish out yellow cards as a Cipot challenge on Eoin Doyle isn't cautioned. Forrester has a strike from distance but it goes safely wide.
Somehow Beganovic isn't booked for a blatant handball in the middle of the pitch. Timmermans gets away with a slack pass to Redmond which is cut out by Daku however, he misplaces his pass and the Saints get a throw-in.
The Slovenian side seemed to have weathered the early storm from the hosts. They are beginning to knock the ball about and maintain spells of possession.
Great opening 10 minutes from the hosts. Cotter nutmegs Pucko before picking out Mark Doyle inside the area who looks to help it on to Breslin who opts not to lay it off to Forrester, but turn and shoot and win a corner. The resulting set piece comes to nothing. Mura haven't started yet.
Fullback Breslin is next to have an effort on goal which requires a good save from Obradovic before Mura eventually clear. Forrester picks out Breslin then with a lovely pass who looks to play it across to Mark Doyle however the keeper smoothers before it reaches him.
Bobicanec is booked for an incident with Forrester. Some start to the game.
Massive opportunity for the Saints in the opening minute. Mark Doyle does well down the left to get past two players before firing it across the box to the onrushing Cotter who can't keep his shot down and shoots over.
The visitors get us underway in a packed Richmond Park. Playing in all black, they are shooting from right to left.