Larne earn dramatic late away win over Ballkani
Lee Bonis in aerial action in Pristina
- Published
Larne sit well placed to progress from the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League after a heroic last-gasp 1-0 win away to Kosovan champions FC Ballkani in the first leg of their tie in Pristina.
Matty Lusty was the goalscoring hero for last season's Irish Premiership champions as he bundled the ball in from five yards after Lee Bonis flicked on Levi Ives' free-kick from the right in the final minute.
Tiernan Lynch's charges defended resolutely throughout, with goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson making some fine saves, but also created chances of their own.
The result was all the more impressive as Larne lost 7-1 on aggregate to Ballkani in the second round of Conference League qualifying 12 months ago, including a 3-0 away defeat.
The second leg will be played at Inver Park on Thursday 15 August, with the winners advancing to the play-off round and an opportunity at earning a berth in the League phase.
Larne had received a bye into the third round after exiting the Champions League qualifiers at the first-round stage with a 7-0 aggregate reverse at the hands of Latvian side RFS.
Late goal after hard-fought battle
Home side Ballkani, conquerors of Maltese side Hamrun in the previous round, enjoyed the majority of the early possession and Walid Hamidi forced Ferguson into a smart save in the 15th minute.
Andy Ryan looked dangerous for the visitors, bringing a stop from Enea Kolici in the hosts' goal.
Ballkani piled on the pressure and the Irish League champions had Ferguson to thank again when Bernard Karrica collected a loose ball and drove into the left-hand side of the penalty area before unloading a low drive which the Larne keeper got a foot to and deflected wide.
Karrica was wasteful again soon after when he could only head an effort into the ground but his blushes were spared somewhat when an offside flag went up.
Larne began the second half in brighter fashion and Lee Bonis' low drive from 25 yards was well saved by Kolici.
Ferguson denied Almir Kryeziu with his feet and then the ball landed to Lindon Emerllahu at the edge of the area but he rifled his shot wide.
Ryan's cross bounced off the Ballkani crossbar late on, before Lusty's late intervention put his side in the driving seat going into next week's second leg.