Tom Huddlestone missed a penalty as Hull City emerged form their first foray into Europe in their 110-year history with a goalless draw at Slovakian side AS Trencin.
The English Premier League club will be ruing not coming home with the advantage from their Europa League third-round first-leg outing in Zilina.
After an hour’s play Shane Long was brought down in the penaly area, but the golden opportunity went begging as Huddlestone’s penalty was easily saved by Milos Volesak.
Huddlestone had an immediate chance at redemption from the rebound, but his shot grazed the crossbar with an open goal at his mercy.
The game was staged in Zilina as Trencin’s home ground does not meet the required UEFA standards.
Tigers manager Steve Bruce gave two of his close-season new recruits — Robert Snodgrass and Tom Ince — a run out in the second half.
Huddlestone later tweeted his apologies for missing the penalty.
“Can only apologise to everyone for a lapse in concentration and thinking I had scored the rebound before I had. Ridiculous on my behalf,” he wrote on Twitter. “On a positive note, the lads worked hard and defended well throughout, deserved our clean-sheet. All to play for next week.”
There were defeats for two of Scotland’s representatives with Real Sociedad beating Aberdeen 2-0 and St Johnstone losing 2-1 at home to Spartak Trnava of Slovakia.
Multiple French league champions Olympique Lyonnais look odds-on to progress to the playoffs after a 4-1 win at Czech side Mlada Boleslav.
Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven could only manage a 1-0 win at home to SKN St Poelten of Austria.
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