Kilmarnock leave it late to snatch first-leg draw with Tromso

Posted Friday, August 09, 2024 by PA

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.

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 before the visitors netted again on the counter-attack.

The Ayrshire side had a penalty award rescinded after a VAR review before Wales struck.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

Derek McInnes had Joe Wright back from injury as he lined up with three defenders, with winger Matty Kennedy asked to drop into the left-back slot when Killie were defending.

With the injured Marley Watkins still absent, former Aberdeen and Livingston striker Bruce Anderson made his first start.

Killie started on the front foot and took the lead inside six minutes. Brad Lyons headed Liam Polworth’s cross against the post before Vassell made the loose ball his and did well to steer it home.

The Tromso defence had looked vulnerable to the press but they were getting men forward when they had possession and Killie adopted a cautious approach for the remainder of the first half.

They needed Robby McCrorie to make a good stop from Jens Hjerte Dahl’s 22-yard strike after Tromso benefited from a long ball.

The visitors levelled through Jakob Napoleon Romsaas five minutes into the second half after Killie had twice missed the chance to clear.

Kennedy had a shot saved and Tromso defended several set-pieces before breaking from a Killie corner to score on the counter-attack through Lasse Nordas.

Kilmarnock began to get the ball in the Tromso box again. Substitute Fraser Murray saw a header saved before Wright missed one from six yards.

Wright soon went down clutching his head after appearing to be caught by goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard’s attempted punch clear after he came well off his line. Cypriot referee Menelaos Antoniou pointed to the spot but reversed his award after being called to the VAR monitor.

Killie continued to press and Lyons had a sight of goal but could not get his shot away in time and his effort was blocked.

But Wales was on hand to sweep the ball into the corner of the net in the third minute of time added on after a shot had been blocked following a corner.