EUROPEAN football returned gloriously to Leeside for the first time in three years and the local side didn't disappoint producing their best display of the season outplaying the Swedish full-timers in a stylish exhibition of football that sets Cork up well for the return leg in this first round Intertoto Cup tie.
City manager Pat Dolan hyped the visitors up beforehand with typical pre-match hyperbole, labelling them the Real Madrid of Swedish soccer because of the huge money being pumped into the club. But for all Malmo's material wealth, their football looked impoverished and the team was bereft of inspiration in many quarters.
But that is in no way to belittle City's performance which was full of exuberance, skill and sheer guts particularly in the first half.
City's football was fluent and made a mockery of some of their more recent listless Eircom league displays, and with John O'Flynn back in the ranks and causing Malmo a litany of anxious moments, City's strategy was to attack from the opening minutes and they kept Malmo debutant goalkeeper Joel Ringstrom more than busy.
Strong at the back where Dan Murray and Danny Murphy excelled, Cork took the game to the favourites and Kevin Doyle's first shot on goal was sign of things to come. It was off target but with Colin T. O'Brien in a tremendous midfield battle with Malmo play-maker, Tobias Grahn, City poured forward looking for an early opener.
It duly arrived in the 10th minute when a speculative O'Brien ball into the Malmo box caused confusion between the inexperienced Ringstrom and defender Daniel Majstorovic and, O'Flynn nipped in to roll the ball to the net from a tight angle.
The 'Cross erupted and City's road into the next round didn't look as daunting as predicted. Malmo still hadn't settled and were totally out-muscled in all areas by a physical Cork challenge. City kept their shape and momentum, and four minutes later a Murray header form a George O'Callaghan free went just over as City searched another goal for comfort for the return trip next week.
O'Callaghan, too, was having one of his usual nights, full of trickery and, in the 19th minute, tried one an audacious chip from outside the area that just failed to come off.
At the other end, Hasse Mattisson was denied a goal when Michael Devine intercepted a dangerous cross. Malmo's attacks were, however, sporadic and City always looked the more likely to score.
Murray fluffed an opportunity in the 33rd minute when Alan Bennett put him in a good position from a corner but the skipper certainly made up for it two minutes later popping up in the box again and heading home decisively an O'Callaghan free-kick.
City lived dangerously in the closing moments of the first half with Murray on hand to clear a from the goal-line and Murphy too cleaning up some shaky City defending.
On the re-start, Malmo were more impressive and began to express themselves in the wide positions with Alfonso Alves a big threat on the wing.
Grahn, too, was anchoring midfield with real authority and set-up Mattisson in the box but the latter's drive hit the crossbar and City breathed easily again.
However, the home side regrouped and, with Liam Kearney a bundle of tricks on the left wing, a cross by the Ireland U21 international was met in the box by Doyle but he misdirected his header.
Cork were buzzing and searched for a third which duly arrived in the 61st minute when captain fantastic Murray headed his second from an O'Callaghan corner that left the shell-shocked Ringstrom in no-man's land.
A three-goal lead was something even Dolan at his most optimistic couldn't have imagined, however, Malmo made a few substitutions and they certainly paid off.
Both were involved in the visitors' strike five minutes from time as a cross from Louny Chanko was headed home over the out-of-position Devine by the unmarked Darko Lukanovic. Cork's only fault in a near flawless display.
Cork City: M Devine; C Lordan, D Murray (c), A Bennett, D Murphy; K Doyle, C O'Brien, G O'Callaghan, N Fenn (B Sweeney 88), J O'Flynn, L Kearney.
Malmo: J Ringstrom; D Majstorovic, O Persson, G Helgersson; H Mattisson (c), A Alves, T Grahn (L Chanko 67), T Osson, J Elanga; N Skoog, B Safari (D Lukavic 65).
Referee: M Strahonja (Croatia)
... I'd forgotton about George trying to lob the 6'6'' keeper :D
