St Mirren crash out of Europe after two late goals seal win for SK Brann

St Mirren’s European adventure has ended following a difficult night and defeat in Norway.

SK Brann ran out 3-1 winners after two late goals sealed a 4-2 aggregate win in the second leg of the third-round qualifier.

Following last week’s 1-1 draw in the first leg, the Scottish side went into the game knowing they would need a win to send them through to the play-off stage.

Joachim Soltved gave the home fans some cheer when he put the Norwegian side ahead in the opening stages.

Alex Iacovitti grabbed a second-half equaliser with a header just minutes after coming off the bench to give the Saints a lifeline.

But Felix Horn Myhre put Brann back in front in the closing stages before Aune Heggebø added a third to end St Mirren’s first venture in Europe since the 1980s

St Mirren had a positive start to the game and came close to opening the scoring when Adam Rooney had a volley from inside the area that sailed just over the bar.

But just moments later SK Brann were ahead when Soltved fired the ball past Ellery Balcombe with just five minutes on the clock.

Stephen Robinson’s men pushed for a quick equaliser and a cross from Caolan Boyd-Munce was met by Richard Taylor who headed straight into the arms of Brann keeper Mathias Dyngeland.

Brann came close to putting the tie to bed early in the second half but Taylor did well to block the shot that was aiming goalward.

The home side then had a penalty claim turned away following a VAR review as the Saints held on.

Robinson then made his first change when he put Oisin Smyth on in the place of Boyd-Munce and the substitute nearly made an instant impact but his low drive was pushed just past the post by Dyngeland.

Taylor was involved again as St Mirren kept pushing but his header was wide of the post after connecting with Rooney’s corner.

The visitors then made three changes with Iacovitti, Fraser Taylor, and Mandron coming in for Richard Taylor, Idowu, and Ayunga.

And Iacovitti made an almost instant impact when he headed home a cross from Fraser Taylor to make it 1-1 going into the last 15 minutes.

But with five minutes remaining Brann snatched another to take the lead again going into the closing stages.

Horn Myhre grabbed the goal to make it 2-1 and give St Mirren a mountain to climb in Norway before Heggebø put the game beyond doubt by making it 3-1.