The New Saints vs Petrocub Match Analysis & Prediction
13/08/2024 8:30 pm
Staring at an early elimination from the Europa League qualifying phase, The New Saints host Petrocub Hincesti at the Park Hall Stadium for the second leg of their third-round tie on Tuesday night.
The Welsh outfit suffered a 1-0 defeat in Chisinau last week, although a one-goal deficit is far from insurmountable for Craig Harrison’s side.
While TNS defender Danny Davies was on target in the 20th minute of last Tuesday’s third-round first leg, his contribution came at the wrong end of the pitch, as his own goal handed Petrocub a narrow but precious advantage on familiar soil.
Despite putting five past Flint Town United in a Welsh League Cup beating a few days beforehand, TNS had no response in the short time that remained and will drop down another tier to the UEFA Conference League should their attacking boots fail them here as well.
Only a couple of weeks ago, TNS were bidding for a historic appearance in the Champions League league stage, beginning their campaign with a 4-1 aggregate win over Decic before being beaten 7-1 by Ferencvaros over two legs, thereby suffering relegation to the Europa League preliminary stage.
Still waiting for their first appearance in a group/league phase of a major continental competition, TNS were due to face Caernarfon Town in their Welsh Premier League opener this weekend, but the game was postponed to aid their quest for Europa League progression.
Petrocub are also yet to contest their first domestic match of 2024-25 as they channel all of their energy into Europa League affairs, having also tried but failed to reach the latter stages of Champions League qualifying.
First-time Moldovan champions in the 2023-24 season – in addition to completing a league and cup double – Andrei Martin’s side overcame Ordabasy 1-0 over two legs in their opening Champions League preliminary tie before suffering a 2-1 aggregate defeat to APOEL in round two.
Should Petrocub add to or maintain their advantage at Park Hall Stadium, they will take on the losers of Ludogorets Razgrad and Qarabag’s third-round Champions League tie for the right to reach the Europa League proper.
In the meantime, the losers will have 180 minutes to save their continental bacon in the UEFA Conference League playoff round, where either Panevezys or Maccabi Tel Aviv will await.
The New Saints vs. Petrocub Head to head
Petrocub won the only previous encounter between these two sides 1-0.
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06/08/2024Petrocub1The New Saints0Europa League
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13/08/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
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13/08/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
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13/08/2024The New SaintsN/APetrocubN/AEuropa League
The New Saints Team News
None of TNS players sustained injury or picked up suspension-inducing cards in the first-leg defeat, although 30-year-old defender Ryan Astles is in the treatment room with an unspecified injury.
Harrison may consider tinkering with his attacking setup, with Jordan Williams for Ryan Brobbel having been a swap that was made just after the hour mark in the first leg.
The New Saints's Last 5 Matches
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16/07/2024Decic1The New Saints1Champions League
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23/07/2024Ferencvaros5The New Saints0Champions League
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30/07/2024The New Saints1Ferencvaros2Champions League
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02/08/2024The New Saints5Flint Town United1League Cup
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06/08/2024Petrocub1The New Saints0Europa League
Petrocub Team News
Martin was forced to bring left wing-back Dumitru Demian off in the 33rd minute of the first leg, and while the severity of his affliction is not known, an appearance here is unlikely either way.
Corneliu Cotogoi was given the nod to replace Demian for the remainder of the game, but Constantin Sandu and Nicky Clescenco are more natural options on the left-hand side.
Petrocub's Last 5 Matches
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10/07/2024Ordabasy0Petrocub0Champions League
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17/07/2024Petrocub1Ordabasy0Champions League
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23/07/2024APOEL1Petrocub0Champions League
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30/07/2024Petrocub1APOEL1Champions League
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06/08/2024Petrocub1The New Saints0Europa League
The New Saints vs. Petrocub: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: TNS or X
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