St Mirren’s long-awaited return to European football ended after they conceded two late Brann goals in a 3-1 defeat in Bergen.
A last-gasp equaliser from Toyosi Olusanya in the first leg of their Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie in Paisley last week gave Stephen Robinson’s side hope for the return game in Norway.
In the return game at the rain-lashed Brann Stadion, home defender Joachim Soltvedt scored after just six minutes but Saints battled back and levelled in the 74th minute through a header from substitute Alex Iacovitti.
It looked like the momentum might be going St Mirren’s way but in the 85th minute Felix Myhre, who scored last week in Paisley, put the home side back in front with a close-range header before substitute Aune Heggebo drove in a clinching third for a 4-2 aggregate win.
The Paisley side were playing European football this season for the first time in 37 years but after beating Icelandic outfit Valur in the previous round, they ultimately found the Norwegian side just too good.
Robinson was pleased to see Alex Gogic and Caolan Boyd-Munce declared fit as he made three changes from the defeat at Aberdeen on Sunday, with Richard Taylor, Jaden Brown and Jonah Ayunga in for Iacovitti, Scott Tanser and James Scott.
It was a promising start to a physical and at times tetchy encounter by Saints and defender Shaun Rooney fired over from 16 yards in the fourth minute after latching on to a Taylor cross.
However, the Buddies found themselves a goal behind when Myhre worked his way past Gogic on the left-hand side of the box and laid the ball back to Soltvedt, who stroked it low past Buddies keeper Ellery Balcombe from 14 yards out.
St Mirren’s response was encouraging although a great cross from Rooney in the 28th minute found no takers.
The Norwegian side showed menace going forward.
Bard Finne was flagged offside after racing clear to see his shot blocked by the on-rushing Balcombe, who made another great save just before the break to prevent Brann tapping in from close range after the Buddies’ defence was opened up again.
The visitors found themselves under pressure at the start of the second half – a timely Taylor tackle prevented Finne getting a shot in on Balcombe.
Oisin Smyth replaced Boyd-Munce and within moments tested Brann keeper Mathias Dyngeland with a long-distance drive, saved for a corner which came to nothing.
The Paisley side were tenacious and in the 67th minute Taylor headed a Smyth corner over the bar.
However, Iacovitti made no mistake when he rose to bullet in a corner from Fraser Taylor, soon after both had come on for Richard Taylor and Roland Idowu respectively.
Both teams went for the winner but it was Brann who finished more strongly.
Niklas Castro found space on the right-hand side of the box and set up Myhre for a header from six yards out and, as the Buddies wobbled, Heggebo fired in from a tight angle past Balcombe to settle the tie.
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