European football returned to Rugby Park this evening with Kilmarnock FC hosting Cercle Brugge KSV in their UEFA Europa League second qualification round 1st leg. In an open game with chances for both sides, both teams managed to score once. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
It was Killie that created the first danger in front of their sell out home crowd at Rugby Park. After mere seconds Kyle Vassell got a powerful shot on target from the far side, which forced the Brugge goalie into a quality save. After the rebound the ball ended up with Danny Armstrong, who fell down in the box and made appeals for a penalty. But the VAR saw nothing in it. No penalty.
The game went back and forth in the opening stages, resulting in mild danger in both ends of the pitch. Cercle Brugge tried to play the ball high and forward quickly on several occasions, trying to reach their star man Denkey. On the other end Kilmarnock tried to play the ball forward quickly as well towards their main man Vassell. Both sides failed to maintain possession or control the ball in the final third.
In the second quarter Cercle Brugge shook the Killie defence with a counter. The ball ended up with Kazeem Olaigbie who managed to drive the ball into the Killie box, but got forced wide by the defence and couldn’t get a clean shot on target. His shot flew high over the Killie net. Not much later McRorie was forced to make his first big save of the game, saving a dangerous header on target by Brugge.
Just before half time Brugge got another dangerous chance on goal. A Brugge corner made it into the box and missed the gloves of McCrorie, after which it landed in front of Brugge midfielder Somers. But the midfielder’s shot on target could be blocked and dealt with by the Killie defence. Half time came on equal terms: 0-0.
The second half
The game restarted in the same manner the first half ended. Both sides tried to find a way through each others defence, but did not manage to find the cutting edge. No small thanks to strong defensive play on both ends of the field.
In the 55th minute Cercle Brugge got the ball to Olaigbie in the final third. The attacker made a sharp turn in the Killie box and managed to get a powerful shot past the defender at goal. McRorie could only watch the ball fly past him and into the net, stunning the crowd at Rugby Park: 0-1.
Not much later it was Brugge that tried to push for more and double their lead. After another counter th ball reached Denkey in the Killie box. The Togo international got a clean shot at goal. But McRorie was equal to it and made a good save, keeping his side in the game.
Kilmarnock regained some control of the game by the 60th minute, creating several half chances in front of the Brugge goal and forcing Brugge goalie Warleson to make a number of easy, but necessary saves.
The Killie pressure built up into a throw close to the Brugge box in the 70th minute. A long throw managed to find the head of Vassell in a crowded box. The ball scrimmaged against the head of Watson, after which it flew past Warleson and into the Cercle Brugge net. To the delight of the fans of Rugby Park things were all square again: 1-1.
Killie kept the pressure on for the winner in the final minutes of the game, resulting in several chances for the home side. In the second minute of extra time Kennedy got a powerful shot at goal, but Warleson somehow managed to keep it out. The referee brought an end to the game at 1-1.
St Mirren visited Valur
In Iceland St Mirren visited Valur for their UEFA Conference League second qualification round this evening. The Buddies managed to create countless quality chances at the goal of their opponent. But even though Valur also got a man sent off in the 81st minute, St Mirren their return to European football ended in a goalless draw. The result means both St Mirren and Kilmarnock will feel they still have all to play for in their European second leg matches.
Thursday next week Derek McGinnes’ men will visit Brugge for their 7:00 PM second leg against the Belgian side. On the same day St Mirren will be receiving Valur for their 7:45 PM second leg. The winner over the two matches will progress to the third round, after which both Kilmarnock and St Mirren will have to overcome a final play-off round. After the play-off round they can reach the European tournament’s main League Stage.
