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Harambee Stars winger Adam Wilson shines to help The New Saints make UEFA Europa Conference League history.
Harambee Stars winger Adam Wilson helped The New Saints make history by becoming the first domestic Welsh club to win in the league or group stage of a major European competition courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Astana in Shrewsbury.
Wilson. Who came on for the last 19 minutes of the game, was successful with three of his four dribbles, made four out of five accurate passes, and was a threat at goal, producing a shot that produced a 0.13 expected goal ratio.
The winger continued with his superb form, having already netted six goals and registered two assists in all competitions for the side since signing on loan from Bradford City at the beginning of the year.
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The breakthrough came in the 40th minute when Rory Holden’s headed goal marked TNS’s first-ever in the UEFA Conference League proper.
Later, Declan McManus secured the victory with a well-taken penalty in the 78th minute after Astana’s Islambek Kuat handled the ball. McManus’s calm finish down the middle sealed TNS’s historic triumph over the seven-time Kazakhstan Premier League champions.
Astana dominated possession early in the game, with Ramazan Karimov almost scoring in the fifth minute, his strike rattling the post.
TNS goalkeeper Connor Roberts, who had previously made a competition-high eight saves in the 2-0 loss to Fiorentina, kept the Welsh side alive with a string of crucial saves. Roberts denied Stanislav Basmanov’s efforts and showed composure under pressure as the Saints' defense held firm.
As the game progressed, TNS began to grow in confidence, especially on the counter-attack. Jordan Williams’ cross found McManus in the eighth minute, but he was denied by Astana goalkeeper Aleksandr Zarutskiy.
The Saints, undeterred, continued to test the visitors and finally took the lead when Williams' deep cross allowed Holden to score with a precise header.
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Astana remained determined, with efforts from Nnamdi Ahanonu hitting the post, but the Welsh champions’ resilience paid off. Adam Wilson's incisive play led to a handball penalty, and McManus’ subsequent goal gave TNS a comfortable lead, sealing a historic night.
The Saints’ win marks a milestone for Welsh football as they became the first club from the Welsh football pyramid to secure victory in the group stage of a major European competition. With upcoming matches against Shamrock Rovers, Djurgarden, Panathinaikos, and Celje, TNS will look to build on their success and push deeper into the tournament.
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