UEL: Kilmarnock fight back against Belgian side
Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Cercle Brugge
Kilmarnock will head to Belgium on level terms with Cercle Brugge after a comeback draw in the first leg of their Europa League second round qualifier.
After an evenly matched first half at Rugby Park, the visitors burst into action and were rewarded with Kazeem Olaigbe’s powerful finish.
However, Kilmarnock equalised when Kyle Vassell’s flicked header deflected off David Watson and into the top corner.
This sets the stage for an exciting second leg at the Jan Breydel Stadium next Thursday.
The hosts nearly got off to a perfect start in torrential rain when Danny Armstrong appeared to be fouled in the box. Referee Martin Dohal pointed to the spot, but it was later confirmed that the ball had already gone out of play, calming the excitement.
The high intensity, possibly aided by the slick surface, persisted throughout most of the first half but didn’t result in many clear-cut chances for Kilmarnock.
Cercle Brugge, on the other hand, posed a threat on the counterattack. Robby McCrorie, making his competitive debut for Kilmarnock, had to make two crucial saves to keep them at bay.
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First, Abdoul Kader Ouattara latched onto a Thibo Somers flick-on and headed towards goal, only for McCrorie to make a reflex save and turn it behind.
Then, McCrorie mishandled a corner, and Jesper Daland’s shot deflected off his face and over the bar.
The Belgians started the second half strongly and were rewarded when Olaigbe controlled the ball beautifully just inside the box and curled it into the top corner.
Kilmarnock thought they had responded immediately when Stuart Findlay headed home, but Matty Kennedy’s corner had drifted out of play.
Vassell connected with a Liam Polworth cross, watching in agony as his looping header grazed the post and went wide.
Kilmarnock finished the match strongly, with substitute Fraser Murray creating chances. He forced a good save from Warleson and skimmed the top of the net with a free-kick.
Fantastic atmosphere by the Killie fans tonight.https://t.co/nWPe7PXB92 https://t.co/KyIZzc71yY
— European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) July 25, 2024
Will the Scottish side regret not finding a winner? They will have to wait and see. All that being said, they will certainly go to the second leg with nothing to fear.
Did you watch the match?
William, a Liverpool fan, watched the match as a neutral. He once told us, he has always had a keen interest in Kilmarnock as his grandma used to watch them in the 1970s. He said: "The confidence those players gained from last season’s overachieving is still there. They didn’t look out of place against one of Belgium’s best teams. Can they still progress? Who knows. Those players will give everything though."
