Crusaders FC 3-2 Skenderbeu Korce (Agg: 4-6)

Highlights as Crusaders exit Europe despite second-leg win

Crusaders clinched a 3-2 win at Seaview in the Champions League second round qualifier but 10-man Skenderbeu Korce progressed 6-4 on aggregate.

Renato Arapi's dismissal on 11 minutes gave the hosts hope, which grew after Stephen O'Flynn netted the opener.

The Albanians hit back with Bernard Berisha slotting home before Lindon Latifi lashed in to make it 2-1.

Crusaders hit the woodwork three times before injury-time goals from Matthew Snoddy and Andrew Mitchell.

The Irish League champions faced a huge task to overturn a 4-1 deficit from the first leg but they were handed an early boost.

Arapi was shown a straight red card after an off-the-ball incident with BJ Burns, who picked up a yellow card.

Crusaders out of Europe despite battling Seaview win

Crusaders seized control and bombarded the Skenderbeu box with strike pair Jordan Owens and O'Flynn the targets.

The pressure was finally rewarded early in the second half when O'Flynn tapped in after Owens headed down from Craig McClean's cross.

The visitors had rarely threatened but the goal sparked them into life and they went close twice before Berisha latched on to a weak back pass from Colin Coates and calmly slid the ball beyond keeper Sean O'Neill.

Skenderbeu broke as Crusaders pressed for a second goal and a flowing move ended with Latifi firing home.

The tie was finished as a contest but the Crues were determined to add to their tally and in the closing minutes Michael Carvill hit a post and the bar while Snoddy headed against an upright.

Stephen Baxter's men finished with a flourish, first with Snoddy heading into the bottom corner and then Mitchell blasting in a superb winner on the night from 25 yards deep into added time.

Skenderbeu Korce will now play Moldovan side Milsami Orhei in the penultimate Champions League qualifying round.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Crusaders

Formation 4-4-2

1O'Neill

2Burns11Robinson6Coates17McClean

25Carvill27Mitchell12Caddell19Snoddy

15O'Flynn18Owens

• 1O'Neill
• 2BurnsBooked at 13mins
• 11Robinson
• 6CoatesBooked at 61mins
• 17McCleanBooked at 37mins
• 25Carvill
• 27Mitchell
• 12CaddellBooked at 72minsSubstituted forClarkeat 73'minutes
• 19Snoddy
• 15O'FlynnSubstituted forO'Carrollat 68'minutes
• 18Owens

Substitutes

• 3Stewart
• 5Magowan
• 7Friars
• 10O'Carroll
• 20Clarke
• 21McKibbin
• 24O'Hanlon

Skenderbeu

Formation 4-4-2

1Shehi

32Vangjeli33Radas5Jashanica3Arapi

27Latifi10Shkembi8Nimaga23Berisha

14Salihi30Duarte

• 1Shehi
• 32Vangjeli
• 33Radas
• 5Jashanica
• 3ArapiBooked at 11mins
• 27LatifiSubstituted forProgniat 85'minutes
• 10Shkembi
• 8Nimaga
• 23BerishaBooked at 33mins
• 14SalihiSubstituted forHristovat 90'minutes
• 30Duarte

Substitutes

• 6Dema
• 7Progni
• 11Abazi
• 12Lapanji
• 17Hristov
• 21Abilaliaj
• 88Lilaj

Referee:

Christos Nicolaides

Match Stats

Home TeamCrusadersAway TeamSkenderbeu

Possession

Home67%

Away33%

Shots

Home3

Away2

Shots on Target

Home3

Away2

Corners

Home0

Away0

Fouls

Home0

Away0

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Crusaders FC 3, Skenderbeu Korce 2.

2. 90'+4'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Crusaders FC 3, Skenderbeu Korce 2.

3. 90'+3'

   Goal!

   Goal! Crusaders FC 3, Skenderbeu Korce 2. Andrew Mitchell (Crusaders FC) with an attempt from very close range to the bottom right corner.

4. 90'+2'

   Goal!

   Goal! Crusaders FC 2, Skenderbeu Korce 2. Matthew Snoddy (Crusaders FC) with an attempt from very close range to the centre of the goal.

5. 90'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Skenderbeu Korce. Ventsislav Hristov replaces Hamdi Salihi.

6. 85'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Skenderbeu Korce. Gerhard Progni replaces Liridon Latifi.

7. 77'

   Goal!

   Goal! Crusaders FC 1, Skenderbeu Korce 2. Liridon Latifi (Skenderbeu Korce) with an attempt from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

8. 73'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Crusaders FC. Richard Clarke replaces Declan Caddell.

9. 72'

   Booking

   Declan Caddell (Crusaders FC) is shown the yellow card.

10. 69'

    Goal!

    Goal! Crusaders FC 1, Skenderbeu Korce 1. Bernard Berisha (Skenderbeu Korce) with an attempt from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

11. 68'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Crusaders FC. Diarmuid O'Carroll replaces Stephen O'Flynn.

12. 61'

    Booking

    Colin Coates (Crusaders FC) is shown the yellow card.

13. 49'

    Goal!

    Goal! Crusaders FC 1, Skenderbeu Korce 0. Stephen O'Flynn (Crusaders FC) with an attempt from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Craig McClean.

14. Second Half

    Second Half begins Crusaders FC 0, Skenderbeu Korce 0.

15. 45'+2'

    Half Time

    First Half ends, Crusaders FC 0, Skenderbeu Korce 0.

16. 37'

    Booking

    Craig McClean (Crusaders FC) is shown the yellow card.

17. 33'

    Booking

    Bernard Berisha (Skenderbeu Korce) is shown the yellow card.

18. 13'

    Booking

    Billy Joe Burns (Crusaders FC) is shown the yellow card.

19. 11'

    Dismissal

    Renato Arapi (Skenderbeu Korce) is shown the red card for a bad foul.

20. Kick Off

    First Half begins.

Page 1 of 2

Navigate to the next page

Navigate to the last page