Motherwell blew a two goal lead against Icelandic side, Stjarnan in their quest to win in the 2nd Qualifying Round in the Europa League. Two early Josh Law goals were cancelled out by two penalties giving the Steelmen a tough job next Thursday.The game started brightly with an early corner but after possession was lost Stjarnan almost hit us with a perfect sucker punch but a poor diving header gave us a free pass. Time went on though and our superior ability began to tell. A lovely move led to Law capitalising on a goalkeeping fumble to give us a 1-0 lead.
Within a few minutes it was doubled after a defensive slip let Vigurs in and his beautiful through ball was gleefully tapped home by the debutant. 2-0 up inside 20 minutes of a first leg European tie is a position we have never been in before and it showed as time wore on.
Stuart Carswell blazed a good chance over the top. The ball was set up to him and unfortunately it fell to the wrong man, his technique was sadly lacking. Had it gone 3-0 it may have been too big a mountain for our guests.
That chance proved costly within minutes as we failed to close down a cross. The subsequent shot took a wicked deflection and Lasley’s outstretched arm stopped it from troubling Dan Twardzik. Lasley making his body big made it an easy decision for the Danish referee and the penalty was coolly slotted home.
From the kick off a lovely flowing move gave Sutton a chance to put us 3-1 up and back in cruise control but his shot went just wide. Stjarnan then came more into the game as half time approached and when the whistle went there was the feeling it was the boys in claret and amber who needed it more.
Second half was played mostly in the Stjarnan half. But there was a problem. They kept picking us off on the counter and had three or four good chances to square the game and through a combination of bad luck and poor finishing we maintained our lead.
Vigurs ended up one on one with the goalkeeper but his shot was saved and Lee Erwin headed over from six yards in our best chance to get what would likely have been the deal clincher. The Stjarnan breaks became fewer and further apart as the game approached its end but Motherwell threw both centre halfs up for a free kick in injury time and ended up in all sorts of bother from the break. Lasley managed to get his foot on the ball but a poor touch allowed a Stjarnan player in front of him and he hauled him back to give the referee no choice but to award a second spot kick.
It was despatched with same coolness as the first and the advantage swung away from us. Itwas clear we ran out of petrol in the second half but the mistakes were of a schoolboy nature and it leaves us needing a win or an incredibly high scoring draw next week to progress.
Undoubtedly we should have done better but we remain right in the tie. There are weaknesses in their defence that can be exploited and with another week’s sharpness, it is very possible we’ll have another tie in the competition.
Team: Twardzik, Reid, Hammell, Ramsden, McManus, Carswell, Vigurs, Lasley, Law(Kerr 69), Ainsworth(Erwin 69), Sutton.
Subs unused: Nielsen, McHugh, Leitch, Thomas, Cadden
Attendance 4,872 (22 away fans)
Motherwell 2 Stjarnan 2