Joseph Anang made his senior European debut in St Patrick’s Athletic’s 1-1 UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round first leg draw with NŠ Mura.
The on-loan West Ham United goalkeeper produced another impressive performance for the League of Ireland Premier Division club, making two excellent second-half saves to keep St Patrick’s in the tie ahead of Thursday’s second leg in Slovenia.
Mura took the lead against the run of play on 28 minutes at Richmond Park in Dublin, when Mirlind Daku latched onto a misplaced back pass, rounded Anang and slotted into the net from an acute angle.
Tim Clancy’s side fought back and went close through Joe Redmond’s header before levelling in spectacular fashion on the hour-mark when Chris Forrester controlled on his thigh and smashed an unstoppable left-foot shot in via the underside of the crossbar.
Anang then took centre-stage, making a superb one-handed reaction save to deny substitute Dardan Shabanhaxhaj on 75 minutes.
Forrester so nearly snatched a late winner for St Pat’s late on, but his mazy run ended with a low shot that was saved by the feet of Mura goalkeeper Matko Obradović.
The home side lost forward Mark Doyle to a red card in added-time, meaning he will miss the second leg at Fazanerija City Stadium on Thursday evening through suspension.
That tie will kick-off at 7pm BST, with the winners drawn to face CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria or Makedonija of North Macedonia in the third qualifying round.
West Ham will enter the tournament at the next stage, the two-legged play-off round, with victory there securing a place in the group stage..
