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Cork City make historic Euro breakthrough
Monday June 28th 2004
MALMO 0
CORK CITY 1
(Cork win 4-1 on agg)
ON A marvellous night for Cork City and Eircom League of Ireland soccer, the Leesiders gained an historic victory against the former European Cup finalists Malmo in Sweden last night.
Cork, who came into the game with a 3-1 lead after their outstanding performance in Turner's Cross last Saturday week, were expecting to spend the night defending, as Malmo made four changes from that defeat, including the introduction of 96-times capped Swedish international Patrick Andersson.
Most of the Swedes' early play saw a slow build up usually started at the back with Andersson and, whilst they had plenty of the early possession, Cork were comfortable and composed at the back.
Goalkeeper Michael Devine's handling was superb, with a very solid back four in front of him. Centre-backs Alan Bennett and Dan Murray dealt capably with everything that came their way, with the full-backs Cillian Lordan and the tigerish Dan Murphy also playing their part.
With the home fans in the 4,500 crowd expecting an early breakthrough, they were soon silenced by the visitors' coolness on the ball right through the park. Colin O'Brien, playing as an anchorman in midfield, allowed George O'Callaghan show the full range of his skills and he linked with Liam Kearney and Kevin Doyle who both worked tirelessly on the flanks.
THE best chance of the first half fell to Malmo when they were awarded a direct free kick on the edge of Cork's penalty area. But midfielder Afonso Alves sent his shot just over Devine's crossbar much to the relief of the Irish side.
Alves showed his and the Swedes' frustration minutes later when he was yellow carded by Russian referee Alexander Gardis for body checking centre-forward John O'Flynn who was on a break deep in Swedish territory.
Thirteen minutes into the second half Cork scored a sensational goal which effectively sealed the tie.
Neale Fenn made progress down the right touchline, looked up and spotted Liam Kearney on the edge of the area. Fenn's pass was perfect and Republic of Ireland under-21 international Kearney superbly shot past the diving Mattias Asper from 15 yards, to send the 300 or so travelling Cork fans wild with celebration.
After 70 minutes, goalkeeper Devine made a brilliant save from Malmo centre-back Daniel Majstorovic's header and Malmo's Alves shot against the Cork crossbar with eight minutes remaining.
But Pat Dolan's side showed great courage against the 1979 European Cup finalists to weather that brief storm and gain their first away victory in European competition.
Previously Cork had defeated Cwmbran Town, CSKA Kiev, Gothenburg and Malmo all at Turner's Cross in Cork, but this, their fifth win in European football in 24 matches, was easily the sweetest.
Their prize in the second round of the Intertoto Cup is a meeting with NEC Nijmegen of Holland, with the first leg away on Saturday night.
MALMO: Asper; Persson, Andersson, Majstorovic, Hoiland; Alves, Olsson, Mattisson, Elanga; Lukanovic, Skoog.
CORK CITY: Devine; Lordan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; Doyle (Behan 88), O'Callaghan, O'Brien, Kearney; Fenn, O'Flynn (Woods 80).
REF: A Gardis (Russia).
Pat McAuliffe
in Malmo
Originally Posted by tiktok
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