St. Mirren eliminated from Europe thanks to late brace from Brann in Bergen

St Mirren's long-awaited return to European football ended after they conceded two late goals to Brann in a 3-1 defeat in Bergen.

A last-gasp equaliser from Toyosi Olusanya in the first leg of the Europa Conference League third qualifying round in Paisley last week gave Stephen Robinson's team hope for the return leg in Norway.

In the return match at a rainy Brann Stadium, home defender Joachim Soltvedt scored after just six minutes, but Saints fought back and equalised in the 74th minute with a header from substitute Alex Iacovitti.

St Mirren looked likely to prevail but in the 85th minute Felix Myhre, who scored in Paisley last week, put the home side back in front with a close-range header before substitute Aune Heggebo scored the decisive third goal to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory.

The Paisley-based side were playing in Europe for the first time in 37 years this season, but after beating Icelandic side Valur in the previous round, the Norwegian side were simply too good in the end.

Robinson was pleased that Alex Gogic and Caolan Boyd-Munce were declared fit and made three changes to the team that lost at Aberdeen on Sunday, with Richard Taylor, Jaden Brown and Jonah Ayunga coming on for Iacovitti, Scott Tanser and James Scott.

It was a promising start to a physical and at times tricky Saints encounter, and defender Shaun Rooney fired over from 15 yards in the fourth minute after collecting a cross from Taylor.

However, the Buddies fell behind when Myhre worked his way past Gogic on the left side of the box and passed the ball back to Soltvedt, who fired it flat past Buddies goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe from 13 metres out.

St Mirren's response was encouraging, even if Rooney's superb cross in the 28th minute went unnoticed.

The Norwegian side appeared threatening in the offensive.

Bard Finne was flagged offside after a free run, but his shot was blocked by the onrushing Balcombe. Just before half-time, Balcombe made another brilliant save to prevent Brann from scoring from close range after the Buddies' defence was clear again.

The visitors came under pressure at the start of the second half – a tackle by Taylor at the crucial moment prevented Finne from taking a shot on Balcombe.

Oisin Smyth came on for Boyd-Munce and within moments tested Brann's goalkeeper Mathias Dyngeland with a long-range shot, which was deflected for a corner but nothing came of it.

The Paisley team remained persistent and in the 67th minute Taylor headed a Smyth corner over the bar.

However, Iacovitti made no mistake as he rose to score from a Fraser Taylor corner shortly after the pair had come on for Richard Taylor and Roland Idowu respectively.

Both teams were aiming for victory, but Brann was stronger in the end.

Niklas Castro found space on the right side of the box and headed the ball from five metres out to Myhre. As the Buddies began to falter, Heggebo shot past Balcombe from a tight angle and won the match.