UEFA Champions League· Season 2026
Sabah FA beat The New Saints 2-1 at Park Hall (4-1 agg) to progress in Champions League qualifying. First-half goals from Mickels and Daşdəmirov sealed it, Lock's late strike a consolation.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Saints dominated possession and territory in the opening quarter-hour but failed to convert. Eoin Farrell saw a shot blocked by Ivan Lepinjica in the 12th minute, and Ryan Brobbel had efforts smothered.
Sabah struck against the run of play in the 28th minute. Aaron Malouda — son of former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda — cut the ball back from the left, and Joy-Lance Mickels arrived on cue to slot a first-time finish past Nathan Shepperd from close range.
The visitors doubled their lead three minutes before half-time. Tymoteusz Puchacz's corner caused chaos in the TNS box; after a series of missed headers, central defender Rahman Daşdəmirov fired home at the back post to make it 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate.
Shepperd denied Malouda a third just before the break, keeping the scoreline at 2-0 at half-time.
Craig Harrison sent on Danny Davies at right-back for the second half, but clear-cut chances remained scarce. Rhys Hughes shot wide from the left side of the box in the 55th minute, and Davies found the side netting three minutes later.
Academy graduate Josh Lock gave the 1,179-strong crowd something to cheer in the 89th minute, capitalising on a misplaced Sabah pass to slot home his first goal in a TNS shirt. In stoppage time, Hughes' free-kick hit the post and Jack Bodenham's header came back off the crossbar, but the equaliser never came.
The turning point
Daşdəmirov's 42nd-minute goal. TNS had weathered the storm after Mickels' opener and were still in the tie — 2-0 down on aggregate with 48 minutes to play. The second goal, from a set piece they failed to clear, effectively killed the contest before the interval. Harrison acknowledged as much: "The second goal before half-time, probably put the end to the tie."
Key performers
Joy-Lance Mickels (Sabah): The Belgian striker's 28th-minute goal was the game's defining moment — a perfectly timed run and composed finish. Subbed off in the 69th minute with the job done.
Rahman Daşdəmirov (Sabah): Scored the killer second goal from a corner and marshalled the backline expertly as Sabah protected their lead in the second half. Four clearances and a goal.
Josh Lock (TNS): The academy graduate's consolation goal was a bright spot on an otherwise difficult night. His first senior goal for the club came at the death and nearly sparked a remarkable comeback.
Nathan Shepperd (TNS): Made several important saves, including denying Malouda just before half-time, to keep the scoreline respectable.
By the numbers — interpreted
Sabah's 54% possession and 12 shots (6 on target) to TNS's 10 (4 on target) reflect a game where the visitors controlled the key moments. The possession split was tighter than the scoreline suggests, but Sabah's efficiency in the final third — two goals from their first three shots on target — told the story. TNS's 46% possession and 10 shots produced only one goal, and that came in the 89th minute when the tie was already decided. The stat sheet paints a competitive contest, but the first-half xG swing was decisive.
What it means
Sabah advance to the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, where they will face KuPS of Finland. The aggregate victory marks a significant achievement for the Azerbaijani champions, who have now won four consecutive European qualifying ties dating back to last season.
The New Saints drop into the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round, where they will face Estonia's Flora Tallinn. The first leg is in Tallinn on 23 July 2026. Harrison's side have now lost their last three European ties across all competitions, though the spirited second-half display at Park Hall offered some cause for optimism.
Verdict
Sabah were clinical where it mattered, scoring twice in a devastating first-half spell that killed the tie. TNS started brightly and finished with a flourish, but the gulf in quality between the two sides' finishing was too wide to bridge. The Conference League now offers a more realistic route to European group-stage football for Harrison's side.
Attendance: 1,179 | Referee: Mateo Busquets Ferrer (Spain)
Match Events
Key match events between The New Saints and Sabah FA — 3 goals and 3 cards recorded during the match.
assist: A. Malouda
assist: T. Puchacz
Rivalry since 2026
The New Saints vs Sabah FA Head to Head Results· 1
The New Saints and Sabah FA have met 1 times — The New Saints won 0, Sabah FA won 1, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2026. Sabah FA leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 2 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 2.00 per match (0 for the home side, 2 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 0 matches (0%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 0 games (0%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 2–0 in 2026.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 15 Jul 2026