The New Saints rocked by Gibraltar champions

Goals in each half from Alex Quillo and Kike Gomez earned the men from Gibraltar a priceless 2-1 lead in first qualifying round to take into next Tuesday’s return leg in Portugal.

Despite a terrific strike from Scott Quigley to level matters just before half-time, the Saints struggled to get into their stride.

In their first action since the departure of manager Craig Harrison to Hartlepool, it was not the result or performance they had craved for on Europe’s biggest stage,

But FC Europa, the Gibraltar domestic treble winners, should take credit from their display, strong defensively and in midfield, while looking quick to counter whenever TNS lost possession.

Comfortable on the ball, the visitors more than matched the Welsh Premier high-flyers who were left frustrated for long spells.

Apart from Quigley’s terrific strike late in the first half, little went right for the Saints who struggled to impose themselves.

They were stunned after just eight minutes when the visitors – making their Champions League debut – sliced through the home defence down the left after winning possession on half way.

The ball was slipped to the pacey Gomez who cut in before crossing for Quillo to slot into an empty net from a few yards.

TNS, who went into the game without injured left-back Chris Marriott, should have been level on 24 minutes when Europa keeper and captain Javi Munoz failed to deal with Ryan Brobbel’s corner from the left but Adrian Cieslewicz pulled his shot wide from 12 yards.

Undaunted, Europa were proving a handful with Mustafa Yahaya and Gibraltar international Liam Walker both volleying inches over from distance. TNS needed to up the tempo, and their renewed efforts were rewarded in fine style a minute before the break when Quigley ran through on the right of the box, before flicking the ball past a defender and crashing his first time strike high into the net.

It was a stunning moment from the forward and just what the Saints needed as they went into the break all square.

But they struggled to build on that breakthrough in an increasingly stop-start second period, with a deflected header from defender Connell Rawlinson one of their better efforts. Despite having the bulk of the play, the hosts often looked vulnerable when losing possession.

The interim management team of Scott Ruscoe and Steve Evans brought on last season’s leading goalscorers Alex Darlington and Greg Draper in a bid to change the game.

But it was Europa who grabbed a crucial second goal 12 minutes from time when TNS were caught on the break, leaving Walker to square from the right for Gomez who curled the ball past Harrison from 15 yards. It could have been worse had Europa sub Kike Carreno not lobbed against the bar two minutes from time.

But the Saints still have a big task to avoid an early exit from the competition.