David Watson earns Kilmarnock first-leg draw in Europa League qualifier

Posted Friday, July 26, 2024 by PA

David Watson headed an equaliser to ensure Kilmarnock will travel to Belgium with everything to play for following a 1-1 draw with Cercle Brugge in Europa League qualifying.

Killie responded well after Kazeem Olaigbe gave the visitors the lead early in the second half at Rugby Park and Watson got the final touch as a long throw paid dividends in the 70th minute.

The 19-year-old midfielder was not yet born when the Ayrshire side last played a competitive overseas game in 2001 and his intervention, coupled with a strong finish from the hosts, will give the 2,500 Killie fans who have tickets for next week’s second leg every hope they can reach the third qualifying round.

Kilmarnock’s previous foray into Europe five years ago fell flat with defeat by Connah’s Quay Nomads under Angelo Alessio, who had just taken over from Steve Clarke.

The Scotland manager was back at Rugby Park to watch Derek McInnes and his squad bid to cause an upset of their own against the seeded Belgians.

Cercle were playing their first European tie in 14 years and only the fifth in their history after finishing fourth in the Belgian league last season. An away goals win over Finnish side Turun Palloseura is their only triumph so far.

McInnes played a three-man central midfield after striker Marley Watkins failed a late fitness test, while former Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie was the only debutant in the starting line-up.

Killie almost got off to a dream start when captain Kyle Vassell forced a decent stop after 10 seconds, but the visitors created the better chances in the first half.

Olaigbe shot over on the counter-attack and McCrorie made point-blank stops from Abdoul Kader Ouattara and Jesper Daland, although the latter save came after a poor attempt to punch clear a corner.

Much of Killie’s attacking threat normally comes from wide areas, but it took them until late in the half to get some testing balls in.

Matty Kennedy’s cross just evaded Brad Lyons and Watson could not get enough purchase on a header following a long throw.

Cercle dominated the early stages of the second half and took the lead 10 minutes in.

There was nothing complicated about the build-up. The visitors were first to a couple of second balls following a hopeful ball forward and Olaigbe made space to sweep his finish home from 18 yards.

McCrorie soon saved well from Ouattara before the Killie fans were on their feet when Stuart Findlay headed home from close range. Kennedy’s corner had gone behind before curling back in though.

Killie continued to look dangerous from set-pieces and levelled when the ball flashed in off Watson’s head after Vassell had won Kennedy’s long throw in the air.

Vassell was unaware of his team-mate’s role as he celebrated and he almost got on the score sheet himself with a header which grazed the outside of a post.

Substitute Fraser Murray twice came close in stoppage-time with a powerful volley which was well saved and a curling free-kick which looped on to the top of the net.

The winners of the tie will face Molde or Silkeborg, with the Norwegians 3-1 up after the first leg.

The losers will drop to the Conference League and could also be heading to Norway after Tromso won 1-0 in Finland against KuPS.