Oege-Sietse Van Lingen and Yahcuroo Roemer scored goals in each half, putting St. Patrick’s Athletic at a disadvantage throughout the game.
However, in the 93rd minute, Mark Doyle secured a late lifeline for the Saints.
This result marks the second consecutive loss for Irish clubs in European competitions this season, following Shamrock Rovers’ defeat against Icelandic opposition.
The last-minute goal triggered a wave of celebrations among the enthusiastic 350 St. Patrick’s Athletic fans, who traveled from London and Brussels to support their team in this small suburban area just north of the French border.
There is still hope for more European adventures for St. Patrick’s Athletic this year, as long as they secure a victory in their upcoming match in Inchicore next Thursday.
Advancing in the competition would guarantee €550,000 in prize money from UEFA.
Although they were just starting their pre-season campaign, Diddeleng did not show any signs of rust, much to the disappointment of St. Patrick’s Athletic and their coach Jon Daly.
The game was characterized by a lack of stability as the home team aggressively pursued every ball, resulting in numerous fouls. This strategy successfully disrupted St. Patrick’s Athletic’s attempts to establish a rhythm in their play.
Both teams had limited opportunities, with Samir Hadji and Oege-Sietse Van Lingen posing the greatest threats for the home side.
It was Van Lingen who broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, taking advantage of the space between St. Patrick’s Athletic’s midfield and strikers to score on his debut.
The home team continued to apply pressure after halftime, and they doubled their lead just after the hour mark. Captain Bruno Freire capitalized on a possession win in midfield and provided an assist for Roemer, who calmly found the back of the net.
St. Patrick’s Athletic manager Jon Daly made substitutions, introducing Tommy Lonergan, Mark Doyle, and Jason McClelland to rejuvenate their struggling attacking line-up.
However, the home team remained dangerous on the counter-attack and came close to scoring a late winner. Substitute Noah Lewis lost possession inside his own box, but St. Patrick’s Athletic managed to breathe a sigh of relief as Hadji’s shot missed the target.
Ultimately, it was St. Patrick’s Athletic who had the final opportunity of the game. Mark Doyle seized his chance and ignited euphoric celebrations in a small corner of the stadium.
Lineups:
Diddeleng: Desprez; Delorge, Decker, Sidibe; Ouassiero (Schaus, 74), Van Lingen (Englaro, 90), Freire, Agovic, Kuete Nsidjine; Roemer (Thomas, 72), Hadji.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Lyness; Brockbank (
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