Saints end scoreless with Danes
Thursday 19th July 2007, 9:45 pm
Keith Fahey attempts to get away from Jonas Borring.
Photo by Tom Carey.
19th July 2007
UEFA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
St. Patrick's Athletic 0
Odense 0
Richmond Park
Saint Patrick's Athletic held on in the face of plenty of pressure to preserve a clean-sheet to earn a 0-0 draw with Denmark's Odense at Richmond Park in tonight's UEFA Cup 1st qualifying round - 1st leg game.
Barry Ryan and Anthony Murphy in particular did their bits to secure a very important clean-sheet.
The Saints had started brightly under the bright Dublin sunshine. Ryan Guy almost got in after only a couple of minutes but just failed to connect with Murphy's driven cross.
At the other end Odense also tried their luck but a long range shot flew well wide while Mark Quigley had a tame shot saved easily by Odense goalkeeper Onyszko.
Dave Rogers keeps tabs on Navarro Bolanos.
Photo by Tom Carey.
Murphy made the first of a number of vital interceptions just before the half hour. He hooked clear from Jonas Borring as the Dane waited for the ball to come down in the area.
Moments later Murphy was again the hero as he headed clear from Kim Christensen at the back post with the home goal in serious danger. Christensen then headed off target as the danger eventually passed for the team from Dublin.
There was little let up in pressure though as the visitors pressed for an away goal. Johan Absalonsen fired wide after a dangerous run from Bechara Oliveira. Dave Rogers got back just in time to clear from Oliveira while the chance of the half arrived shortly before the break.
Saints keeper Barry Ryan somehow saved and importantly held onto the ball as it came through a crowded goal-mouth after an Odense corner reached the head of Ulrik Laursen.
Mark Quigley pressurises Anders Moller Christensen.
Photo by Tom Carey.
There was some respite for Pats before the break when a clattering jump at Darragh Maguire saw Absalonsen booked before Stephen Paisley powered a header wide from Keith Fahey's free kick.
Pats again had to be alert early in the second half with Paisley clearing an early effort off the line. After that early flurry, the pace died a little with Odense happy to pass the ball around as St. Pats struggled to win it back.
Fahey hit a curling shot wide for a rare Saints sight on goal. The home defence was performing heroics to at least keep the visitors out. Maguire gave a typical example when he charged down a shot from Kim Christensen.
Odense stepped up the pressure somewhat in the closing fifteen minutes. Esben Hansen fired over after being allowed time to set himself for a shot while Absalonsen headed wide at the far post from a good position.
A brilliant team move from back to front only ended only when the Saints stood firm to crowd out Borring.
Anto Murphy hooks clear from Jonas Borring.
Photo by Tom Carey.
Probably St. Pats best chance of the game arrived in the closing ten minutes but Fahey's free kick found Maguire too deep and he could merely flick it back across goal.
Odense might have won the game on 84 minutes but Absalonsen headed against Ryan's crossbar from close range after a cross from Hansen. It really could turn out to be the crucial moment of the first leg.
Although they didn't score and were at times outplayed, St. Pats go into the return leg knowing they still have a decent chance to advance - if they can repeat tonight's performance in defence.
St. Patrick's Athletic : Ryan, Maguire, Paisley, Rogers, Brennan, Murphy, Gibson (M Foley 87), Fahey, Keane (Mulcahy 63), Guy (O'Connor 90 +2), M Quigley.
Odense : Onyszko, Laursen, A Christensen, Helveg, Oliveira (Andreasen 70), Absalonsen, Hansen, Jensen, K Christensen (Timm 80), Bolanos, Borring.