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The Pat's players applaud fans at the final whistle. fot. Tomasz Jastrzebowski/Foto Olimpik
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St Pat's denied Champions League away win after conceding in injury-time

Liam Buckley’s side put in a spirited performance to earn a 1-1 first leg draw with Polish champions Legia Warsaw.

Legia Warsaw 1-1 St Patrick’s Athletic 

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC went moments from one of the most famous wins in Irish footballing history but were denied late on by a Miroslav Radovic strike against Legia Warsaw in the Pepsi Arena, which fell silent in the opening period with a goal from Christy Fagan.

The opening 30 minutes was a palate cleanser for the frantic final fifteen minutes of the opening half. Killian Brennan brought out the best in Dusan Kuciak with a curling effort before Jakub Kosecki struck just left of the Sainst post.

A mix up between Inaki Astiz and Kuciak allowed Forrester an effort on goal, his long range chip acrobatically batted away by the Slovakian keeper.

Then, the breakthrough the Saints had yearned for. Chris Forrester and Ian Bermingham created space on the Legia right, beating Lukas Broz all ends up.

Bermingham drove a trademark low cross into the Legia area, from which Christy Fagan lost his marker in Astiz. The in-form hitman timed his run to perfection, dinking the ball just over the sprawling Kuciak and giving the Saints the lead.

Christy Fagan 16/7/2014 Saints goalscorer Christy Fagan. fot. Tomasz Jastrzebowski / Foto Olimpik fot. Tomasz Jastrzebowski / Foto Olimpik / Foto Olimpik

Midway through the second half, Legia went mightily close to bagging a vital equaliser. A Tomasz Brzyski free-kick was headed clear by Ger O’Brien, only for the ball to again drop to the full-back. This time he took on the shot, first time with a stinging volley.

In stoppage time though, Saints were denied victory. Michal Zyro slid through the experienced and stingingly accurate Radovic, his low drive dampening an otherwise stellar outing from the Saints.

St. Pat's fans 16/7/2014 fot. Tomasz Jastrzebowski / Foto Olimpik fot. Tomasz Jastrzebowski / Foto Olimpik / Foto Olimpik

Legia Warsaw: Dusan Kuciak, Łukasz Broź, Jakub Rzeźniczak, Inaki Astiz, Tomasz Brzyski; Michał Żyro, Tomasz Jodłowiec, Helio Pinto (Ivica Vrdoliak 65), Jakub Kosecki (Ondrej Duda 77); Miroslav Radović, Orlando Sa (Marek Saganowski 16).

Subs Not Used: Konrad Jalocha, Igor Lewczuk, Arkadiusz Piech, Adam Ryckowski

Yellow Cards: Ondrej Duda (90)

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke, Ger O’Brien, Ken Oman, Kenny Browne, Ian Birmingham; Conan Byrne, Greg Bolger, Keith Fahey, Killian Brennan (James Chambers 76), Chris Forrester (Mark Quigley 49); Christy Fagan (Lee Lynch 84).

Subs Not Used: Rene Gilmartin, Derek Foran, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Daryl Kavanagh

Yellow Cards: Brendan Clarke (45+1), Ken Oman (46)

Referee: Marius Avram (Romania)

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Author
Stephen Pollard
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