UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying play-off round, second leg
Istanbul Basaksehir 2 St Patrick’s Athletic 0
ST Patrick’s Athletic put up a brave performance at the Fatih Terim Stadium but were edged out 2-0 by Istanbul Basaksehir in the Europa Conference League play-off round tie, thus ending their European adventure.
After a goalless first leg in Dublin last week, Stephen Kenny’s men were expected to be on the back foot in the first half and so it proved, though most attempts by Basaksehir were of the half-chance variety.
Krzysztof Piatek headed harmlessly over, while long-range efforts from Dimitrios Pelkas and Jerome Opoku didn’t trouble Joseph Anang in the St Pat’s goal.
The hosts had their best chance of the first half on the half-hour mark just after Kian Leavy had dragged wide for Pats. Pelkas played a lovely ball through to Berkay Ozcan who rounded Anang and looked destined to score from a narrow angle only for Axel Sjoberg to heroically clear off the line while colliding with the post.
The visitors’ defence held out for the opening minutes of the second half but the dam burst on 64 minutes when Basaksehir captain Omer Sahiner finished from close range. Had he not scored, it may well have been a penalty anyway as the shot that deflected his way struck the outstretched arm of Anto Breslin.
Pats’ best chance came on 80 minutes when Zack Elbouzedi’s effort from range was deflected just over, but two minutes later their dreams were completely extinguished.
First, substitute Aaron Bolger was sent off just four minutes after coming on for a rash challenge from behind on Olivier Kemen and the Cameroonian rubbed salt in the wounds immediately when he nodded home Lucas Lima’s cross to the back post.
Brandon Kavanagh had a stoppage-time effort well saved by the underworked Muhammed Sengezer as Pat’s bowed out with their heads held high.