HE’S joined the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Sergio Aguero in the history books after netting a Champions League hat-trick and TNS striker Michael Wilde is Hungary for more!
The Welsh champions ripped through B36 Torshavn to win 4-1 on Tuesday night and 6-2 on aggregate. It marked the first time the Saints have won both legs of a European tie.
Former Fleetwood and Chester striker Wilde scored the important last minute winner in the Faroe Islands before netting a hat-trick at Park Hall.
Craig Harrison’s men face a tougher task in the second qualifying round as they take on Videoton FC. The Saints host the first leg on Tuesday before the return leg next Wednesday.
The Hungarian champions were in Oswestry on Tuesday to watch their opponents and Wilde reckons they will have gone home with plenty to think about.
“I’m in my second spell at TNS now and we’ve had some great European nights against Liverpool and Manchester City,” the forward, who has become the Welsh Premier’s leading European scorer, told The NLP.
“But Tuesday night has to be up there. The result was obviously the main thing as we’ve never had back-to-back victories before. To get a hat-trick as well was fantastic.
“Videoton were there watching and I think they will have been a bit surprised at how we performed. B36 just couldn’t handle our attacking play.
“We know it’s going to be stiff competition because you’re playing teams who are champions in their country.
“We’ll have to be a little more wary to begin with but we’re hoping to take advantage of being at home first and going to Hungary with a positive result. Another hat-trick would be ideal!”
The club’s European success comes on the back of another trophy-laden season in which the Saints lost just one league game and picked up the domestic treble.
Wilde acknowledges the squad could hardly be more confident going into their next challenge as TNS aim for the third qualifying round where they could face the likes of Celtic, Basel or Steaua Bucharest.
“We’re constantly improving and credit has to go to the gaffer and his backroom staff,” Wilde added.
“We’ve done it in little chunks in Europe. From holding on to stay in a tie to progressing and going for victories – we’ve got plenty of confidence now.
“We’ll be mindful of Videoton but we’ll play our usual game because we know we can hurt them.”
