Kilmarnock’s bid for a UEFA Convention League comeback win in opposition to Copenhagen fell brief after a 1-1 draw at Rugby Park noticed them exit the competitors 3-1 on mixture.
Killie misplaced 2-0 within the first leg of their play-off final week and boss Derek McInnes referred to as on his aspect to make the second leg the “biggest nightmare” for the guests.
The Danish aspect have been definitely given a fright in entrance of 8,083 supporters when striker Marley Watkins pulled a objective again within the sixteenth minute though the house objective survived the primary half thanks principally to ‘keeper Kieran O’Hara.
Nevertheless, the Ayrshire outfit succumbed within the 67th minute when defender Lewis Mayo scored an personal objective attempting to chop out a cross from Elias Achouri.
Killie couldn’t reply but it surely was a great effort by them in opposition to the extra inventive Danish aspect, who performed Champions League soccer final season.
McInnes was boosted earlier than the sport with captain Kyle Vassell declared match to start out with defender Joe Wright coming back from suspension whereas defender Stuart Findlay made his 2 hundredth look for Kilmarnock.
Copenhagen ought to have scored within the 14th minute when ‘keeper Nathan Trott’s lengthy ball discovered Achouri extensive on the left and his first-time move despatched in 18-year-old striker Victor Froholdt who missed the goal from shut vary.
Killie made them pay nearly instantly.
Kilmarnock gamers applaud the followers at Rugby Park
Danny Armstrong’s lofted free-kick into the penalty space discovered Findlay, who headed in opposition to the put up earlier than Watkins knocked the ball in from two yards out, with a protracted VAR test confirming the objective to extra cheers from the Killie trustworthy.
The objective stung Copenhagen into motion however the residence aspect survived some heavy strain earlier than Trott made saves from Vassell and Armstrong, after injured midfielder Liam Donnelly was changed by David Watson.
Again got here Copenhagen with extra threats and solely a surprise save from O’Hara within the thirty fourth minute prevented captain Viktor Claesson scoring with a header from point-blank vary, after he was arrange by ex-Celtic attacker Mohamed Elyounoussi.
A protracted-distance effort from defender Denis Vavro skimmed O’Hara’s left-hand put up earlier than going behind and the ‘keeper made one other world-class save from full-back Kevin Diks’ volley however Killie received to the interval with their objective intact.
Kilmarnock supervisor Derek McInnes at full-time
Vassell had an angled-drive stopped by Trott’s foot 5 minutes after the restart following one other Killie set-piece however they quickly discovered themselves on the defensive once more and O’Hara was pressured right into a save from Vavro’s low drive from 25 yards, the house aspect defending one other nook.
Nevertheless, Copenhagen received the leveller when the luckless Mayo, racing in in direction of his personal objective, might solely knock Achouri’s move excessive into his personal web as substitute Orri Oskarsson was able to pounce.
It was a sickening blow for Killie and minutes later a cross from Lukas Lerager discovered unmarked Elyounoussi who crashed a header off the bar.
Killie saved going however Copenhagen, backed by 201 hardy followers, saved a grip on the tie to e-book their place within the group stage.
