Baku, Bank Respublika Arena: Sabah FA win the first leg of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 first qualifying round against Welsh serial champions The New Saints 2-0. Both goals arrive in the second half — Veljko Simić on 66 minutes and Kaheem Anthony Parris on 84 — sending Sabah into the second leg with a clear cushion.
Evenly matched first half ends goalless
Both sides lined up in a 4-3-3 formation. The opening half produced no goals, with the only noteworthy incident a yellow card for Sabah's Mickels in the 28th minute that briefly interrupted play. The New Saints, who had gone four consecutive European fixtures without a win and struggled badly in front of goal during that run, were well organised defensively. Sabah controlled proceedings without truly threatening.
Simić and Parris settle the contest
The second half had barely begun when yellow cards were shown to Sabah's Zedadka and New Saints substitute Williams — both in the 47th minute — and the game grew in intensity from that point. On the hour, Sabah introduced Mbina to freshen up their attack, and the decisive moment was not long in coming: on 66 minutes, Veljko Simić converted after a assist from Puchacz to make it 1-0. The Serbian left winger, who has taken a route to Azerbaijan via Red Star Belgrade and Basel and is currently on loan at Sabah from Sivasspor, once again demonstrated his value to the club in European competition.
The New Saints turned to Brobbel in the 68th minute in an attempt to turn the tie around, but Sabah remained the more threatening side. Kaheem Anthony Parris entered the fray on 78 minutes and needed just six minutes to make his mark: on 84 minutes, the Jamaican striker — teed up by Simić — finished coolly to make it 2-0. Parris, who signed a four-year deal in Baku in June 2024 having previously moved to Dynamo Kyiv for a fee in excess of one million euros, is one of Sabah's most productive attackers.
Red card in stoppage time sours Sabah's evening
Stoppage time brought a sting in the tail: Sabah's Solvet, already booked in the 62nd minute, received a second yellow card in the 92nd minute followed immediately by a red, ruling him out of the second leg. On the visitors' side, Williams had also picked up a second yellow, meaning he too will be suspended for the return fixture.
Sabah FA head into the second meeting with a 2-0 lead. The New Saints must score at least three times away from home without conceding to stay alive in the tie — a task that looks barely conceivable given their recent form.
