St Mirren cruise into Europa League qualifying after comfortable win over Valur

Posted Friday, August 02, 2024 by PA

St Mirren celebrated European football in Paisley for the first time in 37 years with a convincing 4-1 win over Valur to book their place in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.

Following a goalless draw in the first leg of the second-round tie in Reykjavik last week, Stephen Robinson’s side showed their mettle at home.

Debutant defender Shaun Rooney scored with a trademark header after 15 minutes and the Scottish Premiership side doubled their lead in the 51st minute through attacker Tayosi Olusanya.

Skipper Mark O’Hara fired in a wonderful third in the 65th minute before Tryggvi Hrafn Haraldsson reduced the deficit in the 74th minute from the spot but substitute Alex Iacovitti scored a debut fourth with three minutes remaining.

Saints will meet Norwegian outfit Brann who beat Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 on aggregate, in the third qualifier with the first leg in Paisley next week.

St Mirren’s stadium was close to its 8,000 capacity for the club’s first foray into Europe since they competed in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1987 and the resultant atmosphere was inspiring.

Rooney, suspended last week for a red card picked up during his time at St Johnstone, started in defence while Jonah Ayunga, Roland Idowu, and Dennis Adeniran all came into the starting line-up.

The Icelandic side, without injured 34-year-old former Everton and Tottenham attacker Gylfi Sigurdsson, and backed by around two dozen travelling fans, had to work hard in the opening stages to stifle the excited home side.

Saints kept pushing and got their reward when a corner from O’Hara was headed in at the back post by the unmarked Rooney to send the Paisley fans into raptures.

However, moments later, with the St Mirren fans still celebrating their opener, Rooney conceded possession and Saints keeper Ellery Balcombe had to thwart Haraldsson with the home side defending the corner.

In the 21st minute St Mirren attacker Idowu thrashed a shot just over the bar from 25 yards and while the home side remained in control and clocked up the corners, they had to settle for the slender interval lead.

Buddies defender Marcus Fraser headed an O’Hara corner past the far post just four minutes after the restart, following some slack play in the Valur defence.

However, the second goal soon arrived after keeper Balcombe played a long ball which was flicked on by Ayunga and with the Valur defence in tatters, Idowu unselfishly squared for Olusanya to slot into the empty net.

The Paisley side threatened again when Ayunga’s powerful drive was tipped over the bar by Valur keeper Frederik Schram and another couple of corners came to nothing.

Robinson’s men looked comfortable and in control.

Valur survived a penalty claim on the hour mark when defender Jacob Franz Palsson tangled with Olusanya inside the box, but the visitors incurred more damage when O’Hara’s impressive volley from inside the box, after Ayunga flicked on a Rooney throw-in, beat Valur keeper Schram.

Haraldsson was handed the chance to score with a penalty after Jaden Brown had needlessly fouled Jonatan Ingi Jonsson inside the box almost on the byline and the forward sent Balcombe the wrong way with a well-taken spot kick.

However, it was to prove futile as Iacovitti, on as part of a quadruple substitution in the second half, slammed in from close range after a good save from Schram to restore the home side’s three-goal advantage.