AN INJURY time strike for Karpaty Lviv has put St Patrick's Athletic's UEFA Europa League ambitions in jeopardy.

 

The Saints will go into their third round qualifying second leg tie at Tallaght Stadium next week trailing 2-0 after a brave display in the Ukraine.

After progressing through the previous two rounds after trailing 1-0 from the first leg, the Saints would have had high hopes of completing a trio of comeback wins against the Ukrainians but will accept that the challenge has now been increased.

Belarus international Andrei Voronkov's free-kick three minutes into injury-time could prove decisive over the two legs.

St Pat's keeper Gary Rogers has been the busier of the two keepers earlier on but it was not until the 34th minute that home defender Artem Fedetskiy broke the deadlock.

Sergei Zenjov had a right-footed effort from inside the box just off target early in the second half as the Inchicore outfit battled to keep in the tie.

Derek Doyle created a half-chance for himself midway through the half but his tame effort was easily dealt with by Karpaty keeper Martin Bogatinov.

Igor Oshchypko brought an excellent save from Rogers in the 68th minute and the keeper also kept out an effort by Voronkov with 11 minutes left as it seemed that the Saints would restrict Lviv to a single goal victory.

Unfortunately Pete Mahon's side suffered the late disappointment of seeing Voronkov find the net once more in the 93rd minute after Rogers had denied Oshchypko and Andriy Tkachuk moments earlier.

KARPATY LVIV: Bogatinov; Milošević, Oshchypko, Zenjov, Khudobyak, Gómez, Tkachuk, Fedetskiy, Pérez Martínez (Cristóbal 76), Avelar (Martynyuk 19), Pacheco (Voronkov 61),

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, Bermingham, E McMillan, McFaul, North (D McMillan 46), Doyle, Shortall, Mulcahy, Murphy (Carroll 72), Daly (Crowley 65).

Referee: M Strömbergsson (SWE)