The New Saints are blown away
A superb four-goal blast from Besart Ibraimi sentenced The New Saints to a crushing 5-0 Champions League defeat at Shkendija in the first qualifying round in Skopje.
Izair Emini put the Macedonians on course with a 14th-minute opener, before Ibraimi struck four times with some spectacular finishing to leave the Welsh Premier champions with a forlorn task in next Tuesday’s return leg at Park Hall.
Shkendija were soon on the front foot with some lively forays, and struck first blood on 14 minutes when Emini fired home from six yards after a break down the left.
The Macedonians, spurred by their vociferous support, were full of energy as they attacked at pace at the country’s national stadium.
TNS, for whom defender Ben Cabango and midfielder Danny Redmond made their competitive debuts, fell further behind six minutes before half-time when Ibraimi crashed a low strike past keeper Paul Harrison.
Ryan Brobbel curled a shot narrowly over for the Saints soon after the break, but the visitors’ hopes faded further as Ibraimi took centre stage with some stunning strikes.
He fired his second eight minutes after the interval, before bringing up his hat-trick with a fierce free kick on the hour.
The front man made it 5-0 with his fourth of the game when he rifled another shot past Harrison from distance on 66 minutes.
Shkendija continued to threaten, and only the woodwork spared TNS an even greater deficit on a tough night in Europe.
