St Mirren's European journey came to an end with defeat in Norway against SK Brann.
The Buddies fell behind early to a Joachim Soltvedt goal inside five minutes, but Stephen Robinson's men looked to be taking the match to extra-time when substitute Alex Iacovitti equalised with a little over 15 minutes remaining. But SK Brann scored two goals in three minutes in the final moments of the game to secure their place in the UEFA Conference League Play-Off Round.
The manager spoke pre-match about the need for Saints to perform better than the first leg tie against Brann in Paisley and his side got off to a bright start with Shaun Rooney volleying over from inside the box on four minutes. The summer signing got himself on the end of a Richard Taylor cross which evaded the home defence, but he fired over the bar.
That miss would be punished almost instantly a SK Brann took an early lead. Felix Myhre got the better of Alex Gogic, with the Cypriot defender slipping on the sodden pitch. Myhre slid the ball back to Soltvedt who tucked an effort low into the left-hand corner to give the hosts the perfect start.
But Saints weren't deterred by the set back and pushed for a way back into the match. Taylor sent a header into the arms of Brann goalkeeper Dyngeland just two minutes later after meeting a Caolan Boyd-Munce free-kick, while Rooney sent a wonderful cross into a dangerous area but there were no takers to meet his teasing delivery.
The Buddies had to be alert at the start of the second-half as Brann looked for a second that might have put the game beyond doubt. Taylor made a brilliant last-gasp defensive block to turn Bård Finne's strike wide.
Manager Stephen Robinson made the game's first change on 54 minutes when he introduced Oisin Smyth in place of his compatriot Boyd-Munce. The Northern Irish midfielder was so close to making an instant impact with a low volley that was saved by Dyngeland. It was a terrific save from the Brann goalkeeper as he pushed it wide after Smyth had caught it sweetly on the edge of the area.
Saints were continuing the search for an equaliser and came close again on 67 minutes when Rooney's corner was headed wide by Taylor who just got too much on it.
The Buddies made a triple substitution on 71 minutes and it would pay dividends with two of the changes combining for the leveller. St Mirren Youth Academy graduate Fraser Taylor's corner was perfect as it met the head of Iacovitti who bulleted home a header to send the 750+ travelling support into raptures.
It could have got even better for Saints just a few minutes later when Mandron robbed the ball from a Brann defender deep in their half. He drove into the box and looked to pick out Olusanya, but the forward had slipped on the rain soaked pitch and was denied what would have been a tap in.
SK Brann re-took the lead with just five minutes remaining. Myhre nodded home from close range and substitute Aune Heggebø sealed the Norwegian's place in the play-offs just three minutes later when he finished beyond Ellery Balcombe from a tight angle.
For St Mirren it was heartbreak, but supporters are bound to take a lot of pride in what Stephen Robinson, his staff and the players gave them, not only on the night, but during this first European adventure since 1987.
Full-Time: SK Brann 3-1 St Mirren
St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser (c), Gogic, R.Taylor (Iacovitti 71), Rooney, Adeniran, Boyd-Munce (Smyth 54), Idowu (F.Taylor 71), Brown, Olusanya (Scott 79), Ayunga (Mandron 71)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kelly, Kenny, Bwomono, Tanser, Sutherland, Mooney
SK Brann: Dyngeland, Pedersen, Knudsen, Kristiansen, Soltvedt, Kartum (Sande 73), Kornvig, Myhre, Blomberg, Finne (Heggebø 78), Castro
Subs Not Used: Børsheim, Johansen, Opsahl, Sery Larsen, Warming, Mathisem, Helland, Holten
Referee: Radoslav Gidzhenov
Assistant Referee: Georgi Todorov
Assistant Referee: Petar Mitrev
Fourth Official: Kristiyan Kolev
VAR: Nikola Popov
Attendance: 14,500
