Aidan Keena and Luke McNicholas were the heroes as Sligo Rovers battled hard to stun Motherwell at Fir Park last night.
The Bit O'Red will take a 1-0 advantage into the second leg of their Europa Conference League clash at the Showgrounds after Keena's goal and some good saves from McNicholas saw the Bit O'Red claim their biggest European result since beating Rosenburg 2-1 away eight years ago.
But Sligo went on to lose that tie and they'll be desperate not to let that happen again next week.
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Keena's lobbed effort in the 27th minute stunned the home supporters when he made Motherwell defender Bevis Mugabi pay for an awful blunder.
The Uganda international headed the ball into the path of Keena, who spent most of his career to date in Scotland before joining Sligo earlier this year, and he brilliantly lobbed Liam Kelly in the Motherwell goal.
Keena, 23, ran straight for manager John Russell as the players and coaching staff celebrated together.
Russell made three changes to the side that lost 2-0 to UCD at The Showgrounds last Sunday as Garry Buckley, Adam McDonnell, and Karl O’ Sullivan came in for Nando Pijnaker, Frank Liivak and Max Mata.
McNicholas retained his spot in goal after Ed McGinty completed his transfer to Oxford United hours before the game.
Sligo came into the game as huge underdogs, but had the first chance of the game as Karl O'Sullivan played a brilliant cross into the box. Will Fitzgerald got on the end of it but couldn't keep his effort down.
Moments later, Motherwell's first effort came from Josh Morris, but his shot was deflected into the side netting.
Dubliner Jake Carroll, who began his professional career at St Patrick's, started at left back for the hosts and picked up an early yellow card for a heavy challenge in the seventh minute.
Sligo again came close to scoring in the ninth when Garry Buckley's ball across was latched onto by a Sligo foot, but Kelly did well to save.
McNicolas did well to parry away a shot from Barry Maguire minutes before half-time before Connor Shields missed a sitter for the hosts just before the break.
It was Motherwell again who had the first good chance of the second half five minutes in when Kevin Van Veen broke through the Sligo defence, but McNicholas came out and pulled off a good save.
The home fans' hearts were in their mouths just after the hour mark though when Will Fitzgerlad headed effort from a Karl O'Sullivan cross just went over the bar.
Former Bohemians star Ross Tierney started on the bench for Motherwell, but got his first taste of European football since playing for Bohs against PAOK last August when he replaced Connor Shields midway through the second half.
He was immediately involved as he flicked the ball back to Blair Spittal, but Sligo won the ball back well and cleared.
But Tierney was causing trouble again moments later and he got in on goal, but his effort could only find the side of the net.
Callum Slattery's shot was then parried away by McNicholas 73rd minute before Sligo looked to be in for a second.
But Max Mata, who came on as a sub in the second half, just couldn't wrap his foot around the ball for Sligo 12 minutes from time when he was one on one with the keeper.
Motherwell kept pressing and Mugabi headed wide from a free before a Morris header was saved by McNicholas.
There were calls for a Sligo penalty late on when Mata's header hit off Carroll, but the referee wasn't interested.
A fist effort away from McNicholas was one of the last plays of the game as Sligo held on for a famous win.
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