Late goals boost Kilmarnock and St Mirren's Conference League hopes


Injury-time equalisers gave Kilmarnock and St Mirren a boost in their bid to win their UEFA Conference League third qualifying round ties.

Bobby Wales picked the perfect moment to score his first goal for Kilmarnock as the teenager’s stoppage-time equaliser kept his side well in the hunt for European progress against Tromso.

The 19-year-old produced an instinctive first-time finish to earn his side a 2-2 draw against the Norwegians in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.

KILMARNOCK, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 08: Kilmarnock...s Bobby Wales celebrates after scoring to make it 2-2 during a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier between Kilmarnock and Tromso IL at Rugby Park, on August 08, 2024, in Kilmarnock, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)
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Bobby Wales scored a last-gasp equaliser against Tromso

Killie had also struck early on but failed to build on Kyle Vassell’s opener and became embroiled in a cagey affair.

The home side conceded a sloppy equaliser just after the break through Jakob Napoleon Romsaas before the visitors netted again on the counter-attack, with Lasse Nordas netting.

The Ayrshire side had a penalty award rescinded after a VAR review before Wales struck.

The goal from the attacker, who scored 12 times on loan with Alloa last season, will give Kilmarnock a fighting chance of prolonging their European adventure when they travel to the world’s northernmost professional football club next Thursday.

Meanwhile, Toyosi Olusanya was the last-gasp hero for St Mirren against Brann, netting a leveller in the 90th minute.

PAISLEY, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 08: St Mirren's Toyosi Olusanya celebrates scoring to make it 1-1 during a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier between St Mirren and SK Brann at the SMiSA Stadium, on August 08. 2024, in Paisley, Scotland.  (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)
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St Mirren grabbed a 1-1 draw with Brann

The home side struggled for long spells in the first leg of their third qualifier against the visitors who moved the ball with pace and purpose, while the heroics of Buddies goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe kept them at bay.

The visitors went ahead in the 75th minute through midfielder Felix Myhre’s low drive, but in the 89th minute Olusanya popped up with a close-range leveller which Saints will gladly take into next week’s second leg in Bergen, although they will need to increase their level of performance if they are to go through.

Brann’s goal came when the ball fell to Myhre and he rifled a low drive through a ruck of bodies and into the net from a corner.

But there was drama in the final minute when Olusanya bundled the ball over the line from a cutback from fellow substitute James Scott and St Mirren Park erupted in unexpected joy, with Euro hopes resurrected.

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